2020 has made a weary world more restless and anxious than ever before. Pandemic anxiety due to navigating working from home, isolation, loss of wages, and overall survival has impacted the entire world; but with Black people being disproportionately at risk of contracting coronavirus, we are also at risk of higher rates of depression, anxiety, and lack of sleep.
According to a recent report from Express Scripts, the use of anti-insomnia, anti-anxiety, and antidepressant medications have spiked, with filled prescriptions increasing by 21% between February and March 2020. Those numbers peaked during the week of March 15—the same week the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and the US declared a national emergency in response to the crisis, per the report.
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My sleep schedule has been altered tremendously and I spent many nights in quarantine crying, trying to find movies that fill me with joy before I sleep, rearranging my space, and applying essential oils before bed - none of that worked. I decided that I'd try sleeping naked to give myself an opportunity to feel free, and to literally take the weight of the world off of me as I rested every night.
Going to bed in my birthday suit centered me, it allowed me to face myself, the literal naked truth. It also allowed me to intentionally moisturize and wake up and assess how I felt the night before in ways that I didn't when I'd go to sleep fully clothed.
In case you need a bit more convincing of the naked truth, here are the benefits of sleeping au naturel:
You Sleep Better
A study from the National Institutes of Health found that the temperature of the room where you sleep is one of the most important factors in achieving quality sleep. The ideal bedroom temperature for getting to sleep is 60–67°F (15.6–19.4°C), and sleeping naked is an additional way to keep the body's internal temperature low.
It Can Prevent Vaginal Yeast Infections & Improve Overall Vaginal Health
The vagina is a warm environment, which makes it an ideal place for yeast to grow. Sleeping naked can reduce the risk of vaginal yeast by allowing room for your vagina to breathe.
You Can Develop A Positive Body Image
When you think of how many hours of the day we spend with layers of clothes on, we don't have many moments where we're facing ourselves and learning to love our bodies. For me, sleeping naked doubles as self-care, as you're examining yourself and learning to fall in love with every inch of you.
You’ll Likely Fall Asleep Faster
This 2012 study states that heat exposure increases wakefulness and decreases slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. With your skin cooling off faster, you're more likely to fall asleep, and rest peacefully.
If you're struggling with sleep, consider ditching your nightgown or pajamas and hop in the bed in the nude, and share if it's improved your sleep pattern!
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