Harvard Doctor Recommends Cosy Sock Hack To Fall Asleep Faster

A simple trick involving cosy socks or warm foot baths may be just as effective as melatonin supplements in helping you fall asleep faster, according to Dr Trisha Pasricha, a Harvard Medical School instructor and internal medicine physician specialising in gastroenterology.

In a video shared by The Washington Post on September 26, Dr Pasricha explained that warming the feet before bed can reduce sleep latency, the time it takes to fall asleep, by around seven to ten minutes, matching the effectiveness of many over-the-counter sleep aids.

Dr Pasricha described the mechanism behind the method, explaining that warming the extremities, such as the feet, encourages blood vessels to dilate.

This process, in turn, helps lower the body’s core temperature, a key physiological trigger for sleep onset.

“This is important because our body’s core drops about 2 to 3°F just as we’re falling asleep,” she said. “So warming up the feet helps initiate this cooling process, making it easier to drift off.”

Options Beyond Socks

For those not fond of wearing socks in bed, Dr Pasricha offered alternatives: “You can also take a warm shower one to two hours before bedtime or soak your feet in warm water for about 10 minutes. The goal is the same: to warm up the extremities and encourage faster sleep.”

Highlighting the evidence, Dr Pasricha noted that multiple studies over the decades have demonstrated the effectiveness of thermal regulation techniques in sleep improvement. “Not bad for a sock,” she added playfully.

While it may sound simple, this warm-foot trick could offer a natural and accessible alternative to sleep supplements, all while giving fuzzy sock lovers a scientific excuse.

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