Why does cold weather stop me from sleeping?

A drop in temperature can have a noticeable effect on how active we feel during the day - but what about at night?

- By Camilla Foster

From restless nights in a chilly bedroom to waking up groggier than usual, winter can disrupt our sleep in many surprising ways.

What happens to your body temperature as you fall asleep? “When you move from the wake phase to the sleep phase of your circadian rhythm, that’s marked with a drop in your core body temperature of about 0.5 degrees C to 1.5 degrees C,” explains Dr David Garley, GP and director of The Better Sleep Clinic. “‘So, if you're very hot, you may struggle to make that transition, and that is why many people struggle to sleep in the summer.”

However, if your room is too cold, that can also be an issue. “You want your bedroom to be cool," advises the GP. “This exact temperature will be different for different people. You don't want your room to be icy cold, but on the cooler side is definitely helpful.”