Often, we talk about a good diet, exercise and keeping stress under control as healthy habits. Still, something else that impacts your nightly well-being without as much attention is your sleeping posture.
Although it may sound like an unimportant aspect, how you sleep can have a major impact on your spine, breathing and digestion.
Surprised? We’ll explore the importance of your sleep posture and see how just a couple of small adjustments can improve your sleep and protect your health.
Why is Your Sleeping Position Important?
During our lives, we spend almost a third of our time sleeping in bed in similar postures. People are generally unaware a bad sleeping posture can result in things like continuous pain, crushed nerves and lack of proper blood flow.
Even if you sleep for eight hours, you might feel sore, stiff or still tired when you wake up. If you are doing this, your sleeping position could be an issue for you.
Sleep Habits to Stay Away From
- Lying on Your Belly in Bed Might Look Comfortable But It’s Not Healthy
Lying down on your belly might feel like the best position when you begin. However, it’s actually not very good for your body. Here’s why:
Turning your neck to the side causes tension in your cervical spine.
If your spine is not properly aligned, it makes lower back pain more likely.
If pressure stays on the abdomen for a long period, it can interfere with how organs function.
If you notice pain in your neck, head or back after you wake up, you might be sleeping on your stomach.
- Sleeping With My Arms Above My Head: A Bad Idea for Blood Flow
It is possible for some people to sleep holding their arms overhead or tucked underneath their pillows. As a result of this habit, we can:
Put pressure on the nerves that leads to numbness or tingling in the arms.
Cause your shoulders to become stiff and reduce how far you can reach.
If you wake up with your arms feeling numb or tingly, the sleep position you’ve been using might need rethinking.
- Tightly Curled Fetal Position: May Look Soft, But It Isn’t
While sleeping in a curled-up fetus position is comfortable for many, being too tightly curled—with knees and head brought in—might:
Prevent the lungs from expanding fully which limits how much you can breathe easily.
Squeeze the lower back and make you more likely to experience backaches.
Over time, less movement or flexibility will occur.
Instead, settle into a pose where your legs are bent and you remain curled in a relaxed way.
Left side sleeping is the best way.
According to many sleep specialists, lying on your left is most beneficial for your body.
Gravity in Upright posture helps the body digest food more easily.
It helps with circulation, especially those expecting or suffering from high blood pressure.
Because the stomach is lower than the esophagus, there is less chance of acid reflux.
Air mattresses help straighten the spine and lessen stress on the back.
Improved breathing shape can be supportive for snorers or those living with sleep apnea.
Using a body pillow can help you learn to sleep in the side position and stay in one place.
Easy Steps for Better Sleep Posture
Making some minor changes can help you improve your sleep. Just minor improvements can result in major results.
Select a pillow that keeps your head in line with your spine; don’t use one that makes your head too high or too low.
As a side sleeper, hold a pillow between your knees to support your hips and back during sleep.
Buy a mattress that suits you best: A good quality medium-firm mattress offers the support you need with comfort.
Try not to watch TV or use your phone late at night, because their blue light can make it harder to fall asleep.
Make your room refreshing: Lower the room’s temperature, keep it quiet and make it dark for better sleep at night.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a good sleeping position is very important for your health, often more than most of us realize. Think about it: “Is my sleeping posture truly helping my body?” Having a good night’s sleep depends on how long you sleep as well as your sleeping habits.
By working on your posture, you are making a real difference to how well you sleep and your overall health.
