Whether you don’t have space or can’t figure out a solution for your back pain, switching from a regular mattress to sleeping on the floor is a significant change in your life.
Truth be told, it’s not going to be easy to give the traditional mattress away for the hard floor, and it may even take you a while to get comfortable. There are plenty of reasons for which you should try sleeping on the floor, but some preparation may come in handy.
Without any further ado, let’s take a look at the tips to consider when preparing to go to…”bed.”
Select the adequate surface
In all fairness, there are numerous choices for sleeping on the floor. A firm mattress is fundamental for some, whereas others like sleep right on the floor.
The rule of thumb is not to select a surface that is too smooth, as you will end up sink in it. After all, the purpose of sleeping on the floor is to get rigid support for your back.
Tatami
We have to thank the Japanese for giving us the tatami. It was them that typically sleep on the floor, and the Japanese have been using tatami for more than a thousand years. You can find tatami in all sorts of sizes, with thickness ranging from a couple of inches to as many as you’d find in a mattress.
Tatami was initially used as flooring in Japan, and it’s insanely comfy to walk on. Traditionally made with rice straw core and a rush straw for the cover, tatami has evolved a lot. Nowadays, it’s made with wood chipboards or even polystyrene foam.
Should your mind be set on sleeping on the floor, tatami is a fantastic surface to consider when it comes to the level of comfort.
Futon
There are many things that the Japanese gave us, and the futon is another one from the long list to name. The Japanese futon is popular in the USA since it’s such an amazing and comfy mattress to use when sleeping on the floor.
Not only that, the futon it’s thick, but it also provides a bit of elevation. No matter if it’s a futon with cloth stuffing sitting on a metal frame or a futon with a rigid base and soft top layer, the futon is helpful when you want to give up the bed for sleeping on the floor.
Massage mat
You can find numerous options of sizes and shapes for the massage mats, and they’re thin enough for supporting and comforting your body when sleeping on the floor.
You can find massage mats with heating features, which is essential when the floor gets too cold. A Thai massage mat includes various materials for extra softness.
Yoga mat
The yoga mat can act just like the tatami, as it’s also soft, and yet rigid enough to eliminate the risk of sinking in.
For many, the price will seal the deal as you can find a yoga mat for as low as $10.
How to get the best comfort when sleeping on the floor?
You don’t just throw some pillows or a yoga mat and sleep on the floor. Some preparation is necessary, especially if you don’t want to wake up in the morning with a sore back or a stiff neck.
Start preparing
It would help if you worked with your mind a bit as you’re not going to feel beautiful and cozy from the very first night. Adjusting to a rigid surface can take some time, and it depends a lot on the person. Typically, a big guy may need a couple of more days than other guys, but it’s only a matter of time until the adjustment finally happens.
Select the proper surface
Even if you will sleep on the floor, it doesn’t mean that you should sleep right on the floor. Go back to our selection of options and decide which one works the best for you.
Grab some pillows…or not
It’s a common mistake to think that when you sleep on the floor, you should no longer use pads. Regardless of what people think, using a couple of pillows can increase your level of comfort by a lot.
Should you be determined not to use the pillows, you can use your arm for raising your head, for instance. You only need a bit of support for elevating your head and neck when sleeping on the floor, and a thin pillow can work great.
Don’t grab too many pillows, though, as you will compromise the alignment and alter your comfort also.
Do all sleeping positions work for sleeping on the floor?
Many think that sleeping on the back is the only way to sleep on the floor, but that couldn’t be much further than the truth.
Here are some thoughts on the most common sleeping positions that work just fine on the floor too:
Sleeping on the side
Many primates rest on the side. You can very well use your arm instead of a pillow when sleeping on the floor. If your shoulder is wholly hunched, you can obtain the right neck support.
Side sleeping keeps a healthy posture as it helps vertebrae align while you’re breathing.
Sleeping on the back
Regardless of some research, it seems that sleeping on your back is the best way to eliminate back pain. It’s actually the only method to alleviate back pain thanks to the spine support happening with this position.
Sleeping on the side, for instance, pushes your hamstrings and hip flexors, tightening them after some time.
However, the best way to discover which sleeping position works for you, it’s best that you try them all.
Sleeping on the stomach
The quadrupedal position, or the lookout posture, as some call the sleeping on the stomach, has plenty of benefits for your health. When sleeping on the floor, you can push the elbows and make a pillow from your forearms, as your spin aligns appropriately. Dogs sometimes sleep like this so that it may be comforting for us humans too.
