There’s no arguing that sleep is one of the most important things you do each day. Aside from breathing, eating, and allowing your body to perform its necessary functions, sleep is one of the ways you’re able to make it through each day. And if you don’t receive enough of it, it shows. From tossing and turning throughout the night to simply not having gotten the proper amount of relaxation, your body knows when it hasn't been fully recharged. And unfortunately, until you’re able to catch up on those missed Zs, you’ll be groggy, tired, and working with a lowered supply of energy.

One of the biggest causes to un-restful sleep, however, is improper sleeping environments. This can mean a surface that isn't comfortable, a room that is too hot (or too cold), or the inability to find a suitable position. What’s cozy at the time can leave you with a crick in the neck hours later, while sleeping to hard can bring on numb extremities – an event that makes it almost possible to fall back asleep. By finding a position that is both comfortable and practical, however, you can work to eliminate these issues once and for all.

How to Find the Best Sleeping Position

If you’re a stomach sleeper, stop and think how many times you've woken with a sore back. Or a sore neck. Though sleeping this way might feel restful at the time, oftentimes laying “wrong” on the stomach will create outside aches throughout the day. Not just when you wake up. But because laying on the stomach can create an unnatural bend in the spine – one that pushes it too far forward – weight and muscles can settle awkwardly during the night.

This can cause:

• pinched nerves in the back (or the rest of the body)
• ongoing or intermittent muscle aches
• stiffness in the extremities
• poor circulation
• headaches
• recurring pains
• and more, depending on each person’s health history and particular ailments

However, front-side sleeping can also be helpful – when used intermittently rather than as the rule. The back can generally use a break from hosting its share of weight, and laying frontwards is a prime way to make this happen. Stay that way for too long, however, and it’s likely to cause an issue. For many, a happy medium can be found by lying on the stomach during the day. That way, while awake, a time balance can be found without drifting into a long bout of sleep.

Pillows as a Sleeping Tool

Another solution to stomach-sleeping pains is to enlist the help of a pillow. Meant to support and absorb weight, there are plenty of available pillow styles to make any sleeping position more comfortable. For instance, a Contour Leg Pillow that keeps legs and knees in an ergonomic position. Other pillows, such as wedges, raise portions of the body to best allocate muscle tension. Raise the legs to reduce pressure on the knees or calves, or place the head on an incline to increase circulation and mobility.

Depending on what type of pillow you enlist, and how you use them, a number of sleeping positions can be made more comfortable … and more practical by reducing pains and increasing sleep efficiency. And all in a simple, budget-friendly solution that can be changed and adjusted whenever necessary.

No matter your sleeping preference – on or off of your stomach – there is an easy way to help you sleep. From weight allocation to pillow upgrades, you can find a better, more successful way to gain rest each night.

Head to Contour Living today and get started shopping for your latest pillow options!