science of us animations

How Your Feet Can Help You Sleep

If you have trouble sleeping, you already know the basics: Avoid late-day caffeine, shut off the smartphone or laptop well before bedtime, keep your bedroom dark and cool — that kind of thing. But there’s something you likely haven’t tried, mostly because it is, frankly, a little weird. Next time you’re lying awake at night, try sticking one or both feet out from under your covers. No, really — it works! It helps lower your internal temperature, which signals to your body that it’s time to drift off to sleep. In the first episode of the new Science of Us video series, we explore the biology behind this unlikely sleep tip. Check it out, and come back next week for the second installment of our animated videos! 

How Your Feet Can Help You Sleep