Although it may seem strange, many people cannot sleep without covering themselves, even on sweltering nights. Psychology has several explanations for this habit.
Sleeping covered up in extreme heat may seem like a contradiction, but for many people it is a necessity. Psychology has some interesting answers. Sleeps covered up even in summer.
While some people can barely stand a sheet in summer, others cannot imagine sleeping without at least a light blanket, even when temperatures are sweltering. Far from being just a habit, this behaviour could be linked to certain emotional and psychological traits, according to experts in behaviour and sleep.
Why do some people need to cover themselves to sleep, whatever the weather?
The main reason is not always the cold. In fact, it has more to do with how the person feels than with the temperature of the environment. Sleeping covered, even with a thin sheet, creates a feeling of protection, a kind of emotional ‘refuge’ that helps you fall asleep.
According to psychology, this behaviour may be related to:
- BSearch for security: blankets act as asymbolic barrier against the environment. Many people associate the act of covering themselves with feeling safe, something that has been with them since childhood.
- Anxiety or need for containment:in those who experience anxiety, the weight and contact of blankets can have a calming effect, even when they are not heavy blankets. It is an unconscious way of seeking emotional self-regulation.
- Sleep rituals: the body gets used to certain patterns that help “tell” it that it is time to rest. Covering oneself can be one of those rituals, and doing without it, even on hot nights, can make it difficult to sleep.
Is this something to worry about?
Not necessarily. As long as there are no health problems associated with heat or sleep quality, sleeping covered in summer is not a bad thing. However, if it is accompanied by persistent insomnia, night-time anxiety or excessive sweating, it is advisable to review your environment and consult a sleep specialist.
Ultimately, people who sleep covered even when it’s 30 degrees don’t do so on a whim, but because, on some level, their mind finds emotional rest in that gesture. Sometimes, the feeling of a simple sheet can mean much more than it seems.
