When is the last time you thought about your rest?
Coming home from work and crashing into the nearest bed is usually the kind of nighttime routine many Americans are used to. Simply crawl into bed, put your head onto the pillow, and turn out the right. Sleeping shouldn’t be more complicated than that…right?
In actuality, there’s a lot more to sleep you might be missing out on if you haven’t considered the value of a body pillow.
For anyone who isn’t already familiar with the product, a body pillow is a long, push pillow that lies parallel to your body in the night. Much like with snuggling up with someone, you use the body pillow by rolling on your side and pulling it close to your chest.
The idea behind body pillows comes from the need to keep the spine aligned in the night. Generally, body pillows keep your legs separated, force your diaphragm open, and keep your neck in line with the rest of your spine. All three are needed for good rest.
Still not convinced? Here are a few reasons we think you need to pick up a body pillow as soon as you can.
You’ll Stop Rolling Over
Anxious and antsy sleepers are often the first to report tossing and turning in the night. Instead of settling into a position that you can hold until morning, many people get weak or interrupted sleep due to the constant search for the perfect sleeping position.
One of the great things about body pillows is that they force you to stay aligned.
Since body pillows run quite a few feet in length, putting a body pillow in your bed is like putting up a wall in between yourself and the rest of the bed. Want to turn in the night? These pillows won’t let you twist your back and interrupt your sleep.
You’ll Finally Sleep on Your Side
While there are several ways to sleep, not all sleeping positions are created equally.
Back sleepers have a relatively neutral sleeping position, but sleeping like this can pull on the natural curvature of your spine over time. This piston can also cause sleep apnea and similar conditions.
Stomach sleepers do better with spinal alignment. That is until you get to their neck. To sleep on your stomach, you will need to hyperextend your neck and risk pulling something in the night.
Side sleeping is considered to be the best of both worlds. Not only do you manage the natural curves of your spine, but you also can keep everything aligned from neck to heels.
Most body pillows force you to keep on your side, which does wonders for your back over time. They also can provide the support you might be used to feeling on your stomach as a stomach sleeper, or on your back as a back sleeper.
Changing your sleeping position isn’t easy—but the results may be more than worth it. If you are looking for any kind of pillow to support you in your side-sleeping mission, Sleepyhood has everything you need to know about the best pillows for side sleepers.
You’ll Get Healthy
Last, but certainly not least, you will be happy to hear that body pillows promote the kind of sleep that can greatly improve your long-term health.
Getting your sleep in check will get you the kind of sleep that will get you well-rested or even lose weight. And while you’re at it? Make sure you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep each night.
You will quickly find that getting your sleep in check tends to improve a myriad of other aspects of your life—or give you the energy to finally start going to the gym or picking up that project you’ve been putting off.
The best body pillows will retain their shape over time, use premium materials like shredded foam or bamboo and stay fluffy and comfortable for years to come.
If you take the time to do your research and find the body pillow that best fits your shape and lifestyle, we’re fairly confident you won’t regret it anytime soon.
