Millions of Americans struggle to fall asleep at night, and researchers have come up with many ways to help people get a better night’s sleep. Getting more exercise, turning electronics off an hour before bed, and maintaining a normal sleep schedule have all been proven to have a positive impact on how much sleep a person gets at night.

Now, science has revealed another way that people can improve their sleep, and it has left many stunned.

It turns out that wearing socks to bed can dramatically improve a person’s sleep!

A new study that was just published in the International Weekly Journal of Science concluded that those who wear socks to bed fall asleep fifteen minutes sooner than people who don’t. When your feet are warm and cozy in socks, your blood vessels dilate. This then sends a signal to your brain that you are tired and that it is time to go to sleep.

Researchers also found that people who wear socks to bed experience less hot flashes and dry feet.

Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, a doctor of Chinese and integrative medicine, explained that people have actually known about the benefits of wearing socks to bed for centuries.

“Cold feet can drain the energy of the body and can obstruct the flow of vital qi (energy) and blood (nutrition) in the body. For that reason we want to circulate the ‘qi and blood.’ By doing so we keep painful obstruction away from the body and keep the energy flowing smoothly,” she said. “Cold impedes the flow of energy and heat or warmth encourages it. If you think about a warm bath you relax, and in cold water you tense up. Cold creates stagnation which can also lead to pain (think Reynaud’s Syndrome).”

Do you like wearing socks to bed? Let us know in the comments section!