What's Your Sleeping Position

Are you a yearner? A starfish? Maybe you even sleep like a log. We all have our favorite sleeping positions, but some are better than others when it comes to our health.

Back sleeping

The girl sleeping and lies in her pajamas in a white linens. Blue bed. Blindfold on the head. Sleep mask

Back sleepers come in two varieties: the soldier lies straight and flat with arms down to their sides, while the starfish likes to sleep with their arms flung up by their head and with their legs… well, wherever they land.

Good for:

  • Acid reflux, but sleep on a wedge or an extra pillow to keep your throat higher than your stomach
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Beauty sleep (helps prevent wrinkles)

Bad for:

  • Snoring and sleep apnea

Side sleeping

Man sleeping on his side

There are three basic side-sleeping positions:

  • The fetal position, with knees curled up and chin tucked
  • The yearner, with arms out in front and knees slightly bent
  • The log, with legs straight and arms down to the sides

Good for:

  • Back pain
  • Constipation
  • Acid reflux (but lie on left side)
  • Sleeping while pregnant
  • Blood flow
  • Brain health

Bad for:

  • Wrinkles, due to face being smashed into the pillow
  • Shoulder and hip pain on “bottom” side; put a pillow between your knees to keep hips aligned

Stomach sleeping

woman sleeping on her stomach

If you like to sleep on your stomach with your arms either hugging a pillow or tucked underneath one, then you’re in the freefall position. Some people avoid the pillow altogether and sleep with their arms at their sides and head turned to one side.

Good for:

  • Snoring and sleep apnea

Bad for:

  • Wrinkles
  • Back pain, because the spine isn’t in a natural position
  • Neck pain, because the head is turned to one side for hours at a time

If you’re only comfortable sleeping on your stomach, try putting a pillow or a rolled towel under your pelvis to keep your spine aligned, and use a very thin pillow under your head (or none at all).