I
know some people are of the mindset that sleeping is just wasted time when you
can be doing something with your life.
I used to share that belief when I was in my 20s and 30s. But now I realize that sleeping is
part of life. With it, the quality
of your life and health will be better.
When I lie down to sleep at night, my whole body sighs. I close my eyes and look forward to the
hours ahead where I get to rest my muscles from the work of the day. I try to rest my mind from the day’s
stresses or worries, although they may rear themselves in my dreams. I look forward to dreams, some of which
I may be lucky enough to remember upon waking. I love those crazy mixed up dreams that combine people of
different time eras, places, and events.
It’s your own creative story that you authored. Granted many times the dreams don’t
have endings though.
There are many positions that people use when
they sleep. There are perhaps
well-known facts about the positions and then superstitious generalizations
about the people who sleep in each position. Sleeping on your back is supposed to be the best for
you. It is said to prevent neck
and back pain, minimizes wrinkles, and can also reduce acid reflux. On the
other hand, snoring is usually the worst when sleeping on your back. If you keep your arms down by your side, it is referred to as
the soldier
position. Soldiers are said to be quiet and reserved. Avoiding a fuss, they set high standards for themselves and
others. If both arms are up around
the pillow, that is called the starfish position. Avoiding being
the center of attention, starfish sleepers are said to make good friends
because they are good listeners and offer help when needed.
Sleeping
on your side with both arms out in front is yet another position. This position is good for the same
reasons as the back position, but also ideal for pregnant women. Pregnant woman
are told to sleep on their left side for ideal blood flow. The side position also reduces
snoring. However, the smushed face
you get from side sleeping can cause more wrinkles. Side sleepers are also referred to as yearners. They can be suspicious and
cynical. They can be slow to make
up their minds, but unwavering once they do.
A very popular sleeping position is the fetal
position. Coincidentally, it is
good for pregnant women. It is
also good for reduced snoring. But other than that, it is not an ideal sleeping
position. It is bad for your neck and back, can increase wrinkles, and you can
feel it when you wake up if you have arthritic back or joints. Those who sleep
in this position are said to be tough on the outside but sensitive at
heart. Initially shy, they warm up
when meeting people.
Probably
the worst position for neck, back, and wrinkles is to sleep on your stomach. Also referred to as the freefaller,
stomach sleeping makes it difficult to keep your spine in a neutral
position. It also puts more
pressure on joints and muscles. It
is great for snorers though and also good for digestion. Freefallers are said
to be social and bold, but don’t like criticism or extreme situations.
Pillows
are a great accessory for sleeping too.
There are long ones, flat or fluffy, and water-filled varieties. You can use multiple pillows and
strategically place them under and around body parts. They are an important part of a comfortable night's sleep.
Many
people start in one position and change it throughout their night’s sleep. I am one of them. I almost always start out as a starfish,
but then turn fetal. I guess I can
somewhat agree with the superstitious generalizations about me there. Regardless which position you sleep in,
your body does need an adequate amount of sleep to regenerate itself.
What
kind of sleeper are you? Do the
generalizations match your personality?
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| This position is not among the popular adult positions. I don't even think it has a name... |
