Last night I did something that I haven't done in a long, long time. I don't even remember the last time I did this. Inspired by neck pain of late and after doing some research, I decided to try and sleep on my back.
I can tell you that doesn't come easy to a 37 year old who is used to sleep on his stomach, with his head turned to the right, since he was a little boy.
I usually wake up several times during the night, either from sounds - I am a light sleeper - or because I've turned around ( rolling on my back ). Now I think of it is interesting that I always wake up after rolling on my back. Perhaps I have just never picked up on that signal:
Try sleeping on your back ;>)
This morning, I woke up with back pain. Not sure whether it's my back adjusting to a different sleeping position, the mattress that I have been sleeping on or me forcing myself not to turn around in bed. It doesn't really matter, the main thing is that I managed to get some sleep and, more importantly, that I stayed in the same position during the entire 9 hours or so that I spent in bed.
It was extremely tempting though, when I wasn't sleeping, to turn around and lie down on my stomach again, but pure willpower kept me from doing so.
During the night, while having difficulty sleeping, I tried to use a ( way too big ) pillow to support my neck and I got myself a blanket that I put underneath my legs so it would be harder to turn around.
'
I must say I'm not used to sleeping with a pillow. I am sleeping without one since a year or two, due to moving around a lot. Nevertheless, sleeping without a pillow while being on your back is different from doing so on your stomach.
Let's see where the sleeping on my back experiment is taking me. Will it contribute to improved sleep and thus to me waking up more rested? Will it make me wake up with a nose that isn't stuffed, eyes that aren't irritated? It would be nice if I don't wake up like a truck has run over me for a change.
I might be exaggerating a little bit with the latter, I am a writer after all, but believe me when I say that I hardly wake up rested or energized at all and that this has been so for decades.
I am also curious how much time I will need to get used to this way of sleeping. I have to admit that it feels way less cosy than sleeping on my stomach. I guess I felt somewhat vulnerable last night. I feel it's worth a serious try though so let's keep going and build a habit.
TO BE CONTINUED
How do you like to sleep? Do you belong to the small percentage of back sleepers? If so, good for you. If not, do you usually wake up rested? Are you experiencing neck pain or back pain and have you ever considered changing your sleeping position or sleeping on your back?
If you like this write up, you might also want to read The Day I started donning vegan shoes
The image does not depict me, I don't polish my nails and find white sheets boring - Source