Every night my boyfriend and I have a joking argument about keeping the window open at night. Bear in mind that we live in Canada, and it’s currently winter. However, I lose this battle almost every time. I don’t like the windows open since I hate being cold and I never have enough blankets. Sleep should be peaceful — it should definitely not involve a tug of war contest for stealing the blankets. So one day, I had enough, which brings me to the purpose of this article.
There’s a considerable controversy surrounding this topic, and there are as many opinions as there are people. So, I ask you, the reader:
Do you keep your window open or closed during the night?
Whatever your answer may be, I feel like it’s my duty (because I’m extremely curious and often cold) to do the research and inform the audience.
We all know that fresh air equals to a good quality of life. So it would make sense for a light breeze to create a good sleeping environment as well, right? Well, yes and no. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s study from 2013, 22% of Americans don’t consider fresh air to be a contributing factor to good sleep. On the other hand, 78% of the population said that having the window open helped them get a peaceful night’s rest. But the question remains: Should you open your window before going to bed?
So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of leaving the window open at night?
I did my research and pulled a few sources together, and here’s what we know for sure:
Advantages:
- Prevents CO2 buildup
- Serves as a natural white noise machine.
- Keeps humidity levels low.
Disadvantages:
- Dangerous in high-crime areas.
- Can worsen your symptoms during allergy season.
- Unhealthy in high pollution regions.
Overall, ask yourself these four questions to know whether or not you need to buy a fan or if you’re okay keeping your window open.
- Do you live in a highly industrialized area?
- Is it a really humid day?
- Do you have seasonal allergies?
- Do you live in an area with high crime rates?
According to most research, leaving your window open at night guarantees better sleep. Opening that window and letting Mother Nature contribute to a better quality of sleep is one of the best things you can do for your physical as well as mental health. Fresh air improves your mind, body, and spirit, especially if you have poor ventilation in your room. Sadly, I was wrong, so I will be heading to buy some more blankets. Sleep well, readers!
Featured Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash
