It’s a little surprising that so few of us go to bed in the nude considering the benefits that come with sleeping naked—including reduced stress and improved sleep, reports Vogue Australia.

Your body has an inner clock, or circadian rhythm, which tells you when it is time to go to sleep and when it is time to wake up. The darkness of the night sends a signal that it is time to unwind whereas daylight sends a signal that it’s time to be alert. When these signals are disrupted, we find it hard to relax and fall sleep and also hard to wake up refreshed. Aside from light and dark, our circadian rhythm is also governed by our body temperature. When you go to bed fully clothed (especially in nylon or flannel) you warm up.

When your body temperature is on the rise it tells your brain that you’re supposed to stay awake so you feel more alert. (Ever wondered why it’s so hard to sleep on those hot sticky nights?) At night, our body temperature usually cools down to a degree which leaves you comfortably drowsy. Sleeping naked means you let your body temperature and internal clock adjust naturally.