Tips to Make the Switch Successful
It may help to use a pillow to train your body to stay in your new preferred sleep position. Placing firm pillows, extra blankets, or a long body pillow on either side of your body can help prevent yourself from being able to easily roll over onto your stomach.
Generally, sleeping on your stomach is OK until the belly is growing, which is between 16 and 18 weeks. Once your bump starts to show, stomach sleeping gets pretty uncomfortable for most women. But avoiding your tummy isn't just about what feels good — it's also for safety reasons.
You may have to do a little sleep training if you want to start sleeping on your back. (After all, experts say it takes about 21 days to form a habit.) So, expect there to be an adjustment period when you intentionally change your sleeping position.
Specifically, sleeping on the side or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach. In either of these sleep positions, it's easier to keep your spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure on the spinal tissues and enables your muscles to relax and recover.
There are many reasons people can't sleep on their backs. For some, it's become a habit that's difficult to change. Others, like those with sleep apnea, may find it uncomfortable to rest in this position. If you don't feel like your sleeping position is hindering your day-to-day life, there's no need to switch it up.
The worst sleep position: On your stomach
“This position puts the most pressure on your spine's muscles and joints because it flattens the natural curve of your spine,” he says. “Sleeping on your stomach also forces you to turn your neck, which can cause neck and upper back pain.”
“Sleeping on your stomach not only causes back pain, but leads to wrinkles as well,” says Breus. “This is because you're placing your face directly on the pillow, which causes friction on the skin.” In fact, stomach sleepers often see more pronounced forehead lines—marks that even heavy retinol can't cure.
Sleep researcher Dunkell posited that stomach sleepers tend to be anxious, impulsive, compulsive, and rigid, traits he said work well for jobs in accounting, banking, and management. Similarly, researchers in 1980 and 2002 found that stomach sleepers were more likely to be anxious and less self-confident.
Stomach sleeping has only one advantage over back sleeping. Sleeping on your stomach can reduce the risk of snoring and sleep apnea, but its many drawbacks far outweigh this one benefit. Sleeping on your stomach disturbs your spine's neutral position. It causes back, neck, joint, and shoulder pain.
How does sleeping position affect belly fat loss? Some notes on sleeping positions that can help improve belly fat are as follows: Do not sleep on your stomach: Because this is a position that can cause breathing disturbances, slow down the digestion of food. , accumulate fat and strain the lower back muscles.
Stomach sleepers should use a thin pillow to prevent the neck from tilting in any direction to maintain a neutral spine alignment. Avoid high loft or stiff pillows that'll crane your neck or hurt your face. If the pillow is too thick, your neck will arch upward which places stress on your shoulders, head and neck.
It takes time, constant reminders, and being kind to yourself to learn to sleep on your back. To start, try to fall asleep on your back by simply laying on your back each night before bedtime. It might help to read a book in this position to get you relaxed and ready to fall asleep on your back.
Since then, research has shown that sleeping on the stomach increases the risk for SIDS, and that sleeping on the back carries the lowest risk of SIDS. That's why the latest recommendation is: “back is best.”
Sleeping on your back
According to Dr. Vasyukevic, the supine position is the best position all around for prolonging youthful skin. Not only does it prevent wrinkles due to the lack of wrinkle-inducing friction, it also stops the skin from feeling the pressure of your face "folding" into the pillow.
According to the Mayo Clinic, sleeping on your stomach places a strain on your back and spine. This is because most of your weight is in the middle of your body. This makes it difficult to maintain a neutral spine position when you're sleeping. Stress on the spine increases stress on other structures in your body.
Improved sleep quality
Sleeping naked certainly removes any possibility of pajama-induced overheating interfering with a good night's rest. It's the absolute final move in shedding layers to stay cool. “There's no question that cooler is better than warmer for overall sleeping,” says Dr. Drerup.
According to sleep experts, you should sleep with only one pillow under your head, however, preference and sleeping position often take the lead when it comes to considerations for the ideal number of pillows. Read on to learn why we recommend sleeping with a high-quality single pillow.
Avoid sleeping with your arms higher than your shoulders (for example, by putting them under your pillow). It constricts your nerves and your veins. Your arms can be numb, and the weight is heavy on your shoulders, which makes getting up harder. Finally, sleeping on your back is technically the best way to sleep.
If you sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees to help maintain the normal curve of your lower back. You might try a small, rolled towel under the small of your back for additional support. Support your neck with a pillow.
Kiwis are rich in serotonin and antioxidants, both of which may improve sleep quality when eaten before bed.
Sleeping on your back offers the most health benefits. It protects your spine, and it can also help relieve hip and knee pain. Sleeping on your back uses gravity to keep your body in an even alignment over your spine. This can help reduce any unnecessary pressure on your back or joints.