Althouse: "A 2018 Korean study involving six men in their 20s found that they fell asleep, on average, in 7½ minutes when they wore socks, compared with about 15 minutes when they didn’t...."

February 14, 2022

"A 2018 Korean study involving six men in their 20s found that they fell asleep, on average, in 7½ minutes when they wore socks, compared with about 15 minutes when they didn’t...."

"In a 2007 Dutch paper, eight subjects with no sleep issues who were between the ages of 21 to 39 fell asleep, on average, in about 11 minutes, compared with 16 minutes when they wore socks to bed.... Feet are burgeoning with special vessels (called AVAs—arterio-venous anastomoses) that connect small arteries with small veins. This allows for an impressive amount of blood flow close to the skin, which, in turn, aids in the warming of it. Pulling on socks is more effective than piling on blankets because socks are a layer of insulation that stays in place even as you shift your feet. 'They make sure your feet stay warm, and there’s a constant signal going to the brain that it is safe to sleep'.... (Incidentally, mittens on hands work the same way, though it’s easier to tuck your hands beneath your pillow or body.)"

From "How a Pair of Old Socks Cured My Insomnia/We’ve looked over the guidance in this post to make sure it’s up-to-date, and we still stand by our advice" (NYT).

42 comments:

Witness said...: too warm, cannot sleep; 2/14/22, 10:14 AM
Yancey Ward said...: I am assuming that passage about the Dutch study is just poorly written and not a contradiction between the two studies.; 2/14/22, 10:15 AM
Mattman26 said...: Yeah, what Yancey said, I guess. The Korean study says you fall asleep faster with socks, the Dutch one says the opposite.

Maybe it depends if you're Korean or Dutch.; 2/14/22, 10:18 AM
MadisonMan said...: This has always been my experience. I won't fall asleep really until my feet warm up. I don't care how long that takes.; 2/14/22, 10:24 AM
Flat Tire said...: I've been doing this for years in the winter since the wood stove at the other end of my old house has no effect on the bedroom. The socks annoyed me so finally got a little heating pad and tucked it under the bottom sheet. Adios to sleeping pills.; 2/14/22, 10:25 AM
Mr Wibble said...: I usually sleep with a pair of socks for this reason. I've found that a cold room, combined with a heavy comforter and a pair of warm socks works well to keep me just the right temperature.; 2/14/22, 10:27 AM
rehajm said...: Yeah, what Yancey said, I guess. The Korean study says you fall asleep faster with socks, the Dutch one says the opposite.

Maybe it depends if you're Korean or Dutch.

The Dutch find socks in bed to be very sexy. The extra five minutes accounts for the sex before sleep...; 2/14/22, 10:27 AM
rehajm said...: I get hot. One against...; 2/14/22, 10:29 AM
Wince said...: A 2018 Korean study involving six men in their 20s found that they fell asleep, on average, in 7½ minutes when they wore socks, compared to...

But did they compare the sleep efficacy of that crusty old gym sock under your bed?; 2/14/22, 10:32 AM
rehajm said...: I will say if the room is cold enough those weird Tom Brady Under Armour 'recovery' pajamas bring about a deeper sleep.

...and I have heard more than one person swear by those Japanese socks with the toes...; 2/14/22, 10:32 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Maybe just try socks and find out. Who cares about averages among small groups of men on various continents? You only care about you, and socks could make a difference — for better or worse. Do your own personal experiment.; 2/14/22, 10:37 AM
Yancey Ward said...: "Maybe just try socks and find out. Who cares about averages among small groups of men on various continents? You only care about you, and socks could make a difference — for better or worse. Do your own personal experiment."

No, no, no. Your personal experiment might contradict science, and we can't have that.; 2/14/22, 10:42 AM
rhhardin said...: Keeping ankles warm, or wrists warm for hands, keeps your feet warm. That's where the body decides whether to cut off blood to conserve heat.; 2/14/22, 10:42 AM
RigelDog said...: Thanks for calling attention to this article! Our young adult son has a terrible time falling asleep so I just texted him about these studies.; 2/14/22, 11:00 AM
Mattman26 said...: Maybe I'll put mittens on my feet, just to keep it interesting.; 2/14/22, 11:07 AM
TheOne Who Is Not Obeyed said...: A study last year (IIRC) found women are able to reach orgasm easier when their feet are warm, and recommended socks.

Might be a connection here somewhere, but it is escaping me at the moment....; 2/14/22, 11:09 AM
Wince said...: Althouse said...
You only care about you, and...

Why couldn't Jake Tapper admit that about Joe Biden?; 2/14/22, 11:11 AM
rcocean said...: I always fall asleep within 7.5 minutes, so I don't need socks. However, I will try a nightgown.; 2/14/22, 11:13 AM
gilbar said...: i don't mean to sound like the Handmaid's Tail but wouldn't a Bed warmer work even more better?; 2/14/22, 11:13 AM
rcocean said...: You need loose socks though. Tight socks might cause circulation problems.; 2/14/22, 11:14 AM
gilbar said...: i mean, Seriously; isn't THAT Why people get married? To keep their feet warm?; 2/14/22, 11:23 AM
iowan2 said...: I has to matter what the subjects regular routine was before the "test"

I haven't wore socks to bed since I got out of footy pjs.
But I fall to sleep QUICK. My wife will tell you, often measured in seconds, not minutes.

Growing up we had electric blankets for the unheated 2cnd floor, For twenty +- years we had a water bed. Now its an adjustable sleep number The best money I have spent for a long time, and the best sleep, by far.; 2/14/22, 11:29 AM
Begonia said...: @gilbar: Right?!? Sometimes I joke that I keep my husband around just because he keeps me warm at night.

I don't need socks, as long as I have my husband to warm up my feet.

If he just spoons with me and I put my feet between his legs, I fall asleep in maybe 2-3 minutes. The combination of warm feet and warm body is magical.; 2/14/22, 11:38 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Now its an adjustable sleep number The best money I have spent for a long time, and the best sleep, by far."

How does an adjustable sleep number help? Why not just buy a normal bed that's the degree of firmness you like? Do you keep changing the number or something?; 2/14/22, 11:38 AM
BothSidesNow said...: When my son was four, we were visiting with friends over the weekend, and there were a passel of kids. One of the adults got the short straw to get the kids to bed, and he was gone a long time. When he came back, be said he had gotten into a tussle with my son, who refused to go to bed w/o his socks. Not able to find the socks in all the mayhem, my friend and my son argued back and forth. Finally, my son said "Every night of my life, I have gone to bed with socks on." My friend finally rejoined the adults muttering to himeself "Every night of my life Every night of my life, every night of my very long life."; 2/14/22, 11:50 AM
Narr said...: I can't stand socks in bed, and tend to sleep hot anyway--ask my wife, who is the opposite.
The dog and I usually are in bed long before she gets there, warming it up.

During the recent power outage and cold nights (for us) I found that an extra blanket, a t-shirt, and a knit cap kept me pretty comfy in our bedroom, which is at the farthest end of the house from the heater anyway.

My wife adopted the cap tactic after the first night, and either or both of us could shift to the den (the warmest room by far) to sleep if the power is on.

After reading the post and comments about temp settings, I realized that we keep it pretty warm for her benefit.; 2/14/22, 12:21 PM
Big Mike said...: Six subjects in one study, eight in the other. Neither is particularly scientifically valid.; 2/14/22, 12:42 PM
JK Brown said...: Well, that explains my experience. I have an ankle that was remanufactured over 30 years ago. Still have a steel plate and screws just beneath the skin. First it would feel the winter/summer season changes, then ached in the winter. I discovered that under a body pillow that was across the foot of the bed, it didn't hurt., so I incorporated that, then added a sock and have moved to a piece of mattress topper foam. I found that I seemed to sleep better and have recommended it to others. For me, I've migrated to socks on both feet for winter, always can pull the good ankle out from under if hot. Sometimes I use a handwarmer on the bad ankle. But this winter, an ankle nylon hose sock with a wool sock over has proven effective most times.

I have noticed when my ankle is particularly "feeling the cold" even with all I've done, I've had trouble falling asleep. And on mornings I wake up feeling particularly snug for sleep, it is because my feet feel warm.

As my old age has approached, 60 very soon, I've noticed my sensitivity to radiant heat loss has increased and I need a close layer with even a air migration barrier a lot of times.; 2/14/22, 1:02 PM
Gracelea said...: We got a sleep number mattress 20 yrs. ago, specifically because I weigh exactly half what my husband does. Although I have my side set firmer than his, actually.; 2/14/22, 1:15 PM
Lem the artificially intelligent said...: Socks on then.; 2/14/22, 1:39 PM
Narayanan said...: I wonder if possible to use up more calories / need fewer calories when you wear socks and mittens to bed

weight loss anyone?; 2/14/22, 1:39 PM
iowan2 said...: How does an adjustable sleep number help?

Yes, we fiddle with the firmness setting (just checked mine, 55). Sleep number recommend NOT landing on a number but keep going up and down, never getting a 'favorite' number.
The other part, for us, is the adjustable frame. Going into the store on a lark, with no intention of buying, the salesman ran through his sales pitch on the firmness. Then he started to talk about the adjustable frame, I said no. Don't need it, cant imagine why I would consider it. But he raise our head maybe ten decrees, no big deal, then he did the same with our knees. The instant relief on both of our spines was amazing. We were sold. Since the SleepNumber we never wake up with a stiff back...unless we are traveling. Or at the kids. Often with great memory foam mattresses that are VERY comfortable.
I start the night with my head and knees way up. Watching TV or reading. The remote allows you to set a timer (30 minutes for me)to return the frame to my 'favorite' setting.
Yes a different brand may be as good. A friend has the memory foam...with the adjustable frame. They love it too. It may be the frame more than the mattress.

Looking for used sleep numbers is very thin pickings.

As always YMMV.; 2/14/22, 3:09 PM
Ceciliahere said...: No more Ambien for me. Get the socks out.; 2/14/22, 3:18 PM
Wince said...: What about those pointed sleeping hats that lay to one side with a fluffy ball at the end, worn while carrying a candle holder or slurping soup?; 2/14/22, 3:39 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: I have slept with sock for a half century now. And I usually dropped right to sleep. My partner though can’t sleep unless her feet are sticking out from under the covers.

She tried once to warm up her toes on my chest. Nope. Not going to happen. I learned that in college. Apparently one girl discovered that, and it quickly spread. I would be nodding off, and she would put her freezing feet on my chest. And, needless to say, I woke up immediately. She had this weird idea that that was one of the perks of shacking up. Nope.; 2/14/22, 3:43 PM
Meade said...: And if your socked feet need additional warmth, these get the coveted Good Meade-keeping Seal of Approval:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/HotHands-8-Hour-Adhesive-Toe-Warmer-7-Pair-Pack/21154929?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222223015578614&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=s&wl2=m&wl3=10363752126&wl4=pla-1105701340359&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=21154929_0&wl14=toe%20warmers&veh=sem&msclkid=0550b6fcbe2511d89561d4f66db6fe8d&gclid=0550b6fcbe2511d89561d4f66db6fe8d&gclsrc=3p.ds; 2/14/22, 4:18 PM
gpm said...: >>I get hot. One against...

Me too. I'm always sticking my feet out from under the comforter because they get too hot.

>>Why not just buy a normal bed that's the degree of firmness you like?

I've always understood that the point is to have a bed that's adjustable separately on each side, so a couple can each have the firmness they want.

--gpm; 2/14/22, 5:20 PM
gpm said...: Forgot this part:

And the northern girls, with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night.

--gpm; 2/14/22, 6:55 PM
Gospace said...: And in judging by my own personal experience with a roommate back in college days, wearing socks to bed, even a clean pair every night, will result in smelly feet. Smelly enough to be noticed by others in the same room. Feel need to be aired out.

Having said that I do sometimes wear socks to sleep. In a sleeping bag. When it’s below about 40deg F. I also have a fleece bottom and a long sleeved fleece top. Haven’t noticed it helps me fall asleep faster.; 2/14/22, 7:45 PM
Narr said...: My feet too will end up exposed on purpose, on all but the coldest nights. We call it hobbit style.

My comfort item is the thin old pillow I need to keep my bony old knees from making each other uncomfortable.

Don't laugh at the old-fashioned nightcap, either. I predict a comeback.; 2/14/22, 9:00 PM
jg said...: NYT author appears to misquote the Dutch 2017 study above, which also says warm socks help reduce sleep onset time (swapping the numbers accidentally?)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17070562/; 2/17/22, 4:13 PM
jg said...: NYT author appears to misquote the Dutch 2007 study above, which also says warm socks help reduce sleep onset time (swapping the numbers accidentally?)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17070562/; 2/17/22, 4:13 PM