Tips for Changing Your Sleep Position

March 03, 2018

Tips for Changing Your Sleep Position

I’ll admit it, for years I’ve been a full-on tummy sleeper. In one of last week’s posts, I talked about the best positions for sleep and decided that since I know better, I should do better. But truthfully, changing sleep positions can be hard. This is especially true for people who are used to changing positions during sleep or changing sleeping positions during pregnancy.

Sleep Position Woes

For example, have you ever gone to sleep on your back but by morning you are on your stomach or turned sideways with a leg hanging off the bed?

I think most of us hav woman sleeping prone with a pillow e done that at least once in our life. Though it might be normal, changing sleep positions this way is such a bad health habit. Because of this, I wanted to give you some tips on how to change your sleep position and improve your overall wellness by spring.

Maximizing Your Environment

The question that people wanting to change their sleep position ask most often is, “How do I do it?” The first place to start is to maximize your sleep environment so that you are as comfortable as possible when going to bed, regardless of your sleep position.

You can accomplish this task in a couple of different ways:

The Four C’s

If your bedroom is a storage room for everything you don’t know what to do with, you won’t sleep well. Rid your space of clutter and as organized as possible if you are trying to change your sleep position—and try to keep it that way. Clean, cool, comfortable, and calm. Those are the goals for your bedroom.

One way to help yourself change sleeping positions is to splurge on a good mattress. Mattress life expectancy is 9 to 10 years, so if you have had yours longer than that, it’s time for a new bed. You can also turn the temperature down low and invest in some aromatherapy candles since a cool room that smells good will help you stop changing sleeping positions while you rest. Do whatever it takes to accomplish the four C’s and change your sleep position as seamlessly as possible.

R&R-

For many of us, our bedrooms have become living rooms in a sense. We eat there, work there, watch television there, you name it. But it really shouldn’t be that way. If you are trying to change your sleep position, your bedroom should be a place for R&R: romance and relaxation. To maximize your sleep environment and adjust your sleep position as quickly as possible, only do things in your bedroom that help you relax. Drink a cup of stress relieving tea, meditate, read a good book. Just don’t do things that will stop you from sleeping.

Invest in Your Sleep Position-

If you’re trying to go from sleeping on your stomach to a different sleep position such as your side; you should buy things that will help you be successful. Changing sleep positions during pregnancy is a must for many soon-to-be mommies because tummy sleeping simply isn’t possible during the later months of pregnancy.

No Light, No Noise-

Which brings us to another suggestion: consider making your bedroom a “no electronics zone”.

It’s easy to lie in the bed and scroll mindlessly through our smartphones, but that won’t bring the Sandman. In fact, numerous studies have shown that the light from your television and phone will keep you awake. Changing sleep positions is already difficult. You won’t need more things to keep you awake. If you must have some kind of noise to rest, consider a fan or a sound machine. This can keep you from changing positions

during rest.

A common suggestion for those changing sleeping positions during pregnancy is to purchase a pillow that will help you sleep on your side and stop you from changing positions during sleep. But this trick isn’t only for pregnant women. Special pillows for each sleeping style can help you stay in that sleep position all night long and avoiding changing positions as you sleep.

Establish a Sleep Routine

Wake up and go to bed at the same time each day. This helps your internal clock establish a routine. Once you have maximized your sleeping environment, focus your energy on establishing a bedtime routine that will help you change your sleep position. Keeping your body on a set schedule will allow you to transition into a new sleep position much more easily. Your exact routine is up to you, but the follow suggestions have been successful in helping people stop changing positions during sleep and get comfortable with a healthy sleep position.

Exercise daily so that you don’t have a lot of built up energy at bedtime.
Avoid naps, especially in the later afternoon. Late naps will stop you from resting at bedtime.
Cut the lights down low and buy room darkening shades/curtains to keep the sun out.
Start a bedtime ritual- this might include prayer, meditation, reading, and drinking relaxing beverages.
As you try to fall asleep, count your breaths instead of sheep.

Realize That It’s a Process

If you have a certain way that you like to sleep, it’s likely that you have been resting in that sleep position most of your life. So, change won’t be easy. If you’re having trouble falling asleep in your new sleep position or are changing sleep positions during the night, don’t give up. Keep focusing on finding your best sleep position, maximizing your environment, and establishing a bedtime routine that will make changing your sleep position easier. You’ll be sleeping like a baby in no time.

Wishing you beauTEAful dreams,

Asti