According to Google Trends, searches for ‘when to turn heating off’ spiked at 65% this year at the end of February / start of March, showing that as we enter Spring, household temperature is a ‘hot’ topic. However, it’s not just energy bills that are affected by the temperature in your home, but also your own personal thermostat. From your mood and how hydrated you are, to how well you sleep (and even dream!) or exercise can all vary depending on room temperature.
With this in mind, Nest Learning Thermostat has teamed up with thermal expert Michael Symonds, Professor of Physiology, to shed some light on other areas you might not have previously considered when hitting the on or off switch of your thermostat:
Mastering the right temperature at night time can help you fall asleep faster, sleep better and even dream more!
Did you know that sleep patterns are best between 15.5 and 19.5 degrees Celsius? So if you feel like your sleep pattern is broken or irregular, this may be down to your heating being either too hot or too cold.
Can’t remember the last time you had a dream? Being too cold during sleep can reduce the amount of time spent in an active sleep (also known as rapid-eye movement, REM, or dream), meaning you’ll dream less if you’re too cold.
Netflix may be giving you actual chills
Your body temperature changes with your mood. If you’re feeling irritated you’re likely to get hot and flustered. In contrast, feelings of anxiety can cause body temperature to drop. So if you’re sat anxiously watching a nail-biter like Bird Box, you may find yourself needing to reach for that extra blanket (and not just to hide beneath!).
Who knew the temperature of your home could benefit your exercise regime?
Is the countdown to getting fit for your summer holiday well and truly on? If you’ve signed up to an at-home workout plan or taken to running in the park after work, warming up in an environment with the same temperature you’re going to exercise in can help avoid muscle injury.
Plus, if you prefer sleeping at a cooler temperature, you’re in luck as this can promote metabolic health! Brown fat (good fat) in the body is activated by the cold, and is responsible for burning up fat and glucose – now that’s a win, win!
Struggling to understand why you have all the symptoms of dehydration, but your phone’s telling you it’s 3℃ outside?
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you can’t become dehydrated. The cold can have a similar effect on your body as being hot! This is because the optimum temperature for hydration is ‘thermoneutrality’. This is when body temperature is perfectly balanced with the environment and you’re neither too hot nor cold and therefore less likely to sweat and dehydrate.
And for those who are regretting their ‘new year new me’ hairstyle, don’t panic – hair growth is seasonal and therefore growth increases in the spring! This is primarily due to changes in day length and hormonal changes this brings, such as increased melatonin and prolactin levels. Even more reason to love those long, summer days!
It’s getting hot in herre… but no need to take off clothes
Just sat down in a meeting and your eyes feel heavy and your concentration’s off – sound familiar? This could be down to the room temperature, which can impact how alert and decisive we feel due to how active and alert our brains are.
For example, in a warm space you’re more likely to feel tired and, although a cooler room can stimulate the brain (don’t take off your clothes just yet!), if it’s too cold your body will use more energy keeping itself warm and your brain activity will slow down again. Like most things, it’s about finding a perfect balance.
Nest Learning Thermostat adapts to the behaviour of your household by learning your schedule so it can easily make your home as comfortable as possible. After just one week, Nest programs itself to work to your preferences.
You turn down the heating on your way to bed. Nest takes note and starts building your schedule. 20º in the afternoon, 18º at night. Check. After you’ve turned up the heating for a few days in a row, Nest has learned that you like eating breakfast at 20º. So now it warms up the house as you get out of bed.
