Showering in the evening is a normal way for many people to end the day. This nightly habit may affect your body temperature and, as a result, your sleep quality.
Body temperature plays an important part in the sleep-wake cycle, and human bodies typically experience a drop in core body temperature before nighttime sleep. Scientists have found that by changing this normal temperature control process, showers and baths can affect sleep. We will take a look at the benefits of showering before bed, and examine whether a hot or cold shower is better for sleep.
Reasons to Take a Shower Before Sleep
When added into a bedtime habit, a nighttime shower may help send your brain the signal that it is time to sleep. Showering at night also ensures you will be cleaner when you go to bed, lowering the amount of sweat, dirt, and body oils on your sheets.
Additionally, study says showering before bed might provide other benefits. These benefits change, based on whether you take a hot or cold shower.
Numerous advantages
- It eases stress, promotes healthy circulation, and relaxes muscles, making it easier to rest and get ready for bed.
- It also revitalizes the body and mind.
- It removes the grime and sweat of the day, providing a new and cozy feeling that is ideal for resting.
Which Is Better for Sleep: Hot or Cold Showers?
More study suggests that warm or hot baths in the evening help sleep. However, athletes may find that cold baths assist decrease muscular stiffness, which may lead to improved sleep by lowering pain.If you are going to take a shower at night to encourage sleep, you may want to try having a warm shower instead of one that is blazing hot. Research suggests that hot water may induce more drastic changes to blood pressure in older persons.
Researchers are still striving to establish what time window is optimum for a pre-bedtime shower. Most data appears to imply that having a shower one to two hours before bedtime allows the body enough time to achieve the optimum temperature for sleep.