Grandma was onto something when she told you to wear socks to bed. In Nordic countries, staying cozy before sleep is part of the tradition of “hygge,” which embraces warmth and comfort as essential for restful nights.
Beyond just feeling snug, warming your feet plays a vital role in sleep. It helps your body cool down just the right way, signaling that it’s time to rest.
Core Body Temperature
When the body is exposed to warmth—through a bath, foot soak, or warm socks—it activates cooling mechanisms. Heat causes blood vessels to expand (vasodilate), boosting blood flow to the skin’s surface. This process releases heat from the body, effectively lowering core temperature. As blood moves toward the skin, excess heat transfers out of the body, promoting a cooler internal temperature and aiding sleep.
Zena le Roux
Author
Zena le Roux is a health journalist with a master’s in investigative health journalism and a certified health and wellness coach specializing in functional nutrition. She is trained in sports nutrition, mindful eating, internal family systems, and applied polyvagal theory. She works in private practice and serves as a nutrition educator for a UK-based health school.
