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Have you ever caught yourself dangling one leg out from under the blanket, wondering why it just feels right?
You’re not alone — and it’s not just a quirky habit. Scientists say there’s a fascinating reason behind this bedtime ritual. What seems like a small act of comfort is actually your body’s clever way of cooling down and preparing itself for deep, restorative sleep.
When it comes to sleep, everyone has their own little rituals—a favorite pillow, a perfectly dark room, or a slightly firm mattress. Yet, one oddly common behavior seems nearly universal: sticking one leg out from under the blanket while drifting off.
According to sleep experts, this simple act has a very real scientific explanation. It’s all about regulating body temperature, which plays a crucial role in helping us fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
María José Martínez, coordinator of the Chronobiology Group at the Spanish Sleep Society (SES), explains: “In order to sleep, we need to release internal heat through a process called vasodilation.”
Put simply, the human body, much like an engine, builds up heat during the day. To rest properly, it must “cool down” by allowing heat to escape through the skin—especially through the hands and feet, where tiny blood vessels widen to help release that warmth.
That’s where the “one leg out” instinct comes in. When you stick your foot out from the covers, it helps your body vent excess heat more efficiently, allowing your core temperature to drop—the very signal your brain needs to initiate sleep.
Martínez notes that this cooling process can even be observed in infants: “When babies get sleepy, their ears and noses turn red and warm. That’s their body expelling heat through vasodilation so they can drift off.”
In essence, this natural cooling happens mostly at the body’s edges—the feet, hands, and face—and it’s a key part of the body’s internal sleep mechanism.
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