Do people sleep more in the winter?
By Carl Halling
@CarlHalling (3617)
United Kingdom
January 30, 2007 9:56am CST
Many animals hibernate in the winter. I was just wondering whether we human have a tendency to sleep more in the winter as a means of conserving our energies for the spring to come? Am I imagining this, or do we humans have a certain hibernatory tendency too?
2 people like this
7 responses
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
31 Jan 07
Hi Carl. What if we don't have a winter? Here where I live in Queensland, I wouldn't call winter cold. I never wear winter clothes, except maybe a linen jacket if I go out at night.
I only need five hours sleep maximum a night, but tend to sleep a little less in the really steamy hot weather and a little more in the cooler weather. Everything is so uncomfortable in our summer, even with three fans on me, so I suppose the extra comfort in the cooler weather would encourage a little extra time in bed.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
31 Jan 07
Hi CW. Normally I would say I envy you, but we are having such a mild winter this year in the UK, and spring is just over a month away. Also, I am aware of just how incredibly hot Australian summers are. Many British people adore the thought of that; but I am sure that there are times when the heat is just too much.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
1 Feb 07
Too many times - like NOW!
I have one fan blasting on my face, one on my legs and another oscillating the air around me - and I'm still hot!
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
1 Feb 07
Oh dear, I'm sorry about that. We in the UK are having an unseasonably mild winter. There were guys wandering around in shorts yesterday!
In late Jan. We have barely had a winter yet. And yet we have to earn our spring...don't we???
@dreamsharmin (2281)
• China
21 Mar 11
Yes people do sleep more in winter. In my opinion it's true as i also do and i saw people to sleep more in winter then other season. As out side is cold and inside the bad they feel so warm and comfortable so they do sleep more and they don't want to wake up early as outside is cold.
Good luck!
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
21 Mar 11
True, who wants to quit warmth and comfort for the cold. Thanks for responding.
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I think I am getting a bit tired. I had to do a double take and read your topic twice. I thought it said water!
So true that we tend to sleep more in the winter. Our bodies seem to naturally require more sleep. We store energy in our sleep. Our bodies require more energy to keep warm in the winter months.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
1 Feb 07
I think you're right. I hope the spring wakes me up; with these short days, I'm getting so little done!
@webduck (238)
• United States
1 Feb 07
As I have gotten older, it seems I need less sleep, but it is hard for me to tell because I have fibromyalgia and without restorative sleep I am just a mess. I do seem to sleep more during the winter, but I think that it has a lot to do with windows being closed and the neighbors not mowing their grass every other day. I would think we do have some cyclical tendancies, yes. Like a cicadian rhythm sort of thing.
@whispers168 (768)
• United States
23 May 11
I like curling up in a warm bed in teh winter and falling asleep with a good book.I do tend to sleep more in the winter and I become less active as well in other areas.
