Why do showers make you sleepy

Breus noted that putting the body in cold water can cause the body temperature to drop lower, so it can go into a fight-or-flight response and be alerting. When you take that perfectly timed hot shower or bath in the evening, make sure you soak it up for 10 minutes — the optimal time, Haghayegh said. Using bubble bath forms a layer of insulation around the body, keeping it warmer longer. Andrew Varga , a sleep medicine doctor at The Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Center, said people who bathe in the mornings and have sleep issues, particularly with getting to sleep, may find that an evening shower or bath may be helpful, Varga noted.

Other than that, the gold standard for treating sleep-onset issues is cognitive behavioral therapy. A study assessing climate change and sleep quality noted that higher day temperatures can lead to higher night temperatures.

Because temperature is critical to sleep quality, the authors contend that moderate increases as a result of climate change can affect sleep. Sleep-deprived people show similar symptoms as people with social anxiety. Depression and fatigue are different, and yet sometimes they can feel strikingly similar. Weighted blankets can be beneficial for sleep disorders as well as anxiety and restless leg syndrome.

Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias. Updated August 20, Written by Danielle Pacheco. Benefits of Showering Before Bed When incorporated into a bedtime routine, a nighttime shower may help send your brain the signal that it is time to sleep. Effects of Hot Showers on Sleep A growing body of research suggests that taking a hot shower or bath before bed can improve sleep. Sign up below for your free gift.

Your privacy is important to us. Was this article helpful? Yes No. Harding, E. Sleep and thermoregulation. Current Opinion in Physiology, 15, 7— Haghayegh, S. Before-bedtime passive body heating by warm shower or bath to improve sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 46, — Tai, Y. Hot-water bathing before bedtime and shorter sleep onset latency are accompanied by a higher distal-proximal skin temperature gradient in older adults.

Chronobiology International, 36 12 , — Singh, M. Heated, humidified air for the common cold. Chauvineau, M. Effect of the depth of cold water immersion on sleep architecture and recovery among well-trained male endurance runners. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, Robey, E. Effect of evening postexercise cold water immersion on subsequent sleep. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 45 7 , — Sleep quantity and quality in elite youth soccer players: A pilot study.

European Journal of Sport Science, 14 5 , — Buijze, G. The effect of cold showering on health and work: A randomized controlled trial. PloS One, 11 9 , e The duration of the shower or bath does not need to be longer than 10 minutes for a person to reap the benefits. This cools the body down by improving the blood circulation from the core of the body to its periphery — that is, to the hands and feet.

A lack of sleep can harm mental and physical health. Learn how much sleep is necessary, the effects of getting too little, and tips for better sleep. Sleep affects our performance, mood, and health. The necessary amount of sleep depends on several factors, including age, but adults usually require 7…. However, making some simple changes to sleep habits can…. Your body temperature reaches its lowest in the early morning, at which point it begins rising again, preparing your body to wake up and meet the day.

When you take a warm shower at night, you help aid this natural thermoregulation process. During the shower, your body heats up thanks to the water. This rapid cooldown is the largest reason why a shower at night can help you sleep.

However, showering or bathing before bed provides several other pro-sleep benefits:. Experts recommend that a lukewarm shower 60 to 90 minutes before bed is best. A cold shower stimulates your mind and body the opposite of what you want before bed.

That energizing effect makes cold showers suitable for the morning, when you want to wake up. A too-hot shower can have a similar effect to a cold one: energizing your body and waking you up.