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Having feet that get cold every time you get into bed is never much fun, especially for your partner. Even if the rest of your body seems warm and toasty, you can still have cold feet and therefore be uncomfortable in bed.
It isn’t an uncommon problem, though, because our extremities, i.e., our hands and feet tend to get colder than the other parts of our body. Feet and hands can get cold simply because your body is trying to retain the heat around your vital organs.
Normally, learning how to keep feet warm in bed is a piece of cake because there are numerous simple tricks you can utilize to get rid of the problem. Of course, if your cold feet are combined with pain in your calves or toes, a tingling sensation, or any type of numbness, you should get yourself checked out by a doctor to make sure that nothing serious is wrong.
If it’s just cold feet you’re dealing with, here are six things you can do to make it better:
1. Massage your feet
Cold feet are often the result of poor circulation, so if you use circular motions to massage your feet with your fingertips or thumbs, you can increase the circulation and experience better warmth in your feet.
If you want even more warmth, try some type of balm made just for the feet, or choose an essential oil such as eucalyptus, lavender, or ginger oil and rub that on your feet.
Start with your toes and work towards your heel as you’re massaging for the best results.
2. Always stay hydrated
I am always amazed at how much staying properly hydrated can affect one’s health. This includes the problem many people experience with cold feet in bed.
Simply put, if you stay well hydrated, it increases your blood circulation and keeps the volume of blood flowing to all of your fingers and toes.
It is recommended that you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each and every day, but drinking even more will be better for you.
3. Wash your feet using warm water
Water is an excellent conductor of heat, and soaking your feet in warm water before you go to bed is a great way to keep you more comfortable once you get there.
Soak your feet in water that is 100 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit until they feel nice and toasty, then dry them with a soft dry towel immediately afterwards.
Once your feet are nice and dry, make sure that you put on a comfortable pair of socks before hopping into bed.
4. Always wear socks in bed
Wearing socks in bed is always good for keeping your feet warmer, but certain types of socks work better than others.
Choosing socks made out of natural fibers — think cotton and wool — is better because they usually have air pockets that will actually trap the warm air to keep your feet warmer. This pair by Dickies is a great example.
You can also place your socks in the microwave for a minute or two to help get your feet from cold to warm a lot faster. And make sure you choose socks that aren’t so loose that they fall off of your feet during the night.
5. Get regular exercise
Now that you know how poor circulation affects the temperature of your feet, it’s easy to understand why regular exercise is so good for cold feet.
During the day, make sure you don’t sit still for long periods of time but instead, get up and move around occasionally or do a few simple stretching exercises.
Before you go to bed, sit in a recliner and elevate your feet, then do some simple leg lifts. The more exercise you get, the fewer problems you’ll have with feet that are uncomfortably cold.
6. Use electric blankets or leg massagers
Using electric blankets in bed or electric leg massagers right before you go to bed can help keep your feet at the right temperature as you sleep. Massagers, in fact, not only help increase blood circulation but also stimulate endorphins, and they can help improve the flexibility in your feet when you use them regularly.
Both massagers and electric blankets keep legs and feet nice and toasty each night, and they can be the perfect complement to the other methods you use to keep yourself comfortable.
With these tips and tricks, your feet should stay warm and toasty in bed throughout the night.