Changing your sleep position without losing comfort

You have heard that sleeping on your side is better for your back, or your physio suggested you stop sleeping on your stomach. But here is the thing: your body has had its habits for years, and changing them looks impossible. Good news, you can change your sleep position without giving up comfort. You just need to go gradually and give your body the right support. Here is how to do it, gently.

Why change position?

Nobody changes position for fun. There is usually a concrete reason behind it.

Maybe you sleep on your stomach and wake up with a stiff neck and a hollow lower back. That is one of the best known drawbacks of this position, which forces you to turn your neck and increases the arch of your lower back. Maybe you snore on your back and want to breathe better. Or maybe you have hip pain or sciatica, or you are expecting a baby, and side sleeping has been recommended to you.

Whatever your reason, keep one thing in mind: the best position is still the one where you feel good. The goal is not to force yourself, but to find a new habit that relieves your body while staying pleasant.

Start with the position you fall asleep in

Here is a distinction that changes everything. You do not really control your whole night. Once you are asleep, your body moves, turns over, looks for support. What you can choose is your falling asleep position, the one you close your eyes in.

That is the one to aim for. If you consistently fall asleep in the new position, your body will gradually adopt it as its reference. Do not get discouraged if you wake up in your old position at first. That is normal. The habit settles in step by step, night after night.

The gentle method, step by step

No need to turn everything upside down in one night. This gradual approach works well:

• Go in small steps. Spend a few nights falling asleep in the new position, without putting pressure on yourself about the rest of the night.
• Recreate the comfort you like. If you slept on your stomach because you like feeling something to press against, hold a pillow against you in your new position. The body needs familiar sensations.
• Support the sensitive areas. As you move onto your side, your knees end up stacked on each other and your pelvis tends to rotate. That is uncomfortable and it pulls on your back.
• Be patient with yourself. A few weeks are sometimes needed before a new position feels natural. Every night counts.

The accessories that make the transition easier

This is where good support makes the difference. When you change position, the body loses its bearings and looks for support. Giving it some is a way of helping it accept the change.

To leave the stomach position, a pillow tucked against your stomach or along your body stops you rolling flat during the night. To adopt side sleeping, a pillow between your knees changes the comfort radically. It keeps your legs parallel, stops your top knee from sliding forward, and stabilizes your pelvis. The new position becomes pleasant right away, and your body has fewer reasons to go back.

Making side sleeping comfortable from the first night

If you are switching to your side, comfort is the key to success. A position that pulls or creates pressure points is one you will not keep for long. Your body will return to its old habits as soon as you are asleep.

That is exactly what the Pillova knee alignment pillow is for. Slipped between your knees, it keeps your hips at the same height and stops your pelvis from pivoting. The position becomes comfortable immediately, which helps a lot in adopting it for good. Its density controlled memory foam does not flatten during the night, and its adjustable strap holds it in place even if you move around a lot. The cover is removable and washable, a real plus day to day.

It is a wellness accessory, not a medical device. It simply makes the change of position gentler on your body. Pillova gives you 30 nights to try it, with a 2 year warranty and free shipping, the time it takes for your new habit to settle in.

And if you are changing position because of persistent back pain, hip pain or sciatica, talk to a health professional as well. A good accessory supports comfort, but pain that has set in deserves proper advice.