Sleep is one of the most essential activities for human health, yet for many people, falling asleep—and staying asleep—can be a nightly struggle. While millions turn to sleep aids, routines, or even sleep tracking devices to get better rest, the answer might lie in something much simpler, and surprisingly common: sleeping with one foot outside the blanket.

Most of us have our own sleep rituals. Some hug a pillow tightly, others can’t rest unless the room is completely dark, and many people spend minutes adjusting their blankets to achieve the perfect position. Among these habits, one stands out as both peculiar and oddly widespread: sticking a leg or foot out from under the sheets.

It might seem like a quirky, almost unconscious move, but scientists say it actually has a clear biological purpose—and it could be helping you sleep better than you think. The Human Body’s Natural Sleep Process. To understand why this works, it helps to look at what happens inside the body as it prepares…