April 19, 2021

How to Sleep on the Floor – The 5 Top Tips to Follow

We all love the sweet feeling of a blissful sleep on top of a comfortable mattress. There’s nothing quite like sinking into the comfortable surface for a night’s rest. Naturally though, sometimes it’s not possible to be in your own bed to go to sleep. Sometimes, it’s necessary to sleep in other places. That could potentially be the floor.

Whether you’re sleeping on the floor when you’re staying with friends or if you’re going to sleep on the floor for minimalism purposes, it’s important to know how to do it properly to stay comfortable. People have been sleeping on the floor for centuries, so there are obviously ways that you can do it without waking up in aches and pains. With that in mind, here are our top tips for how to sleep on the floor.

Benefits to Sleeping on the Floor

Before we go on, you may be interested to know that there are actually some benefits to sleeping on the floor - so don’t feel so bummed out the next time that you have to do it when you stay over a friend’s house!

Many people actually report that it’s good for back pain to sleep on the floor. This hasn’t been supported by science yet, but the reasoning behind it is that softer mattresses don’t give your back as much support. Ultimately, this may lead to back pain. People also report that sleeping on the floor can be good for your posture, since the firmness of the floor is good for allowing the spine to stay in its proper position.

Of course, there are also some disadvantages. For instance, sometimes sleeping on the floor can be bad for your back, and it’s possible to get allergic reactions to some of the substances that may be on the floor, such as dust and mold. It’s best to avoid sleeping on the floor if possible if you’re an older adult, if you feel cold a lot or if you don’t have a lot of mobility.

How To Sleep On The Floor

So, how do you sleep on the floor? Here is some advice for you to keep in mind.

Mental Preparation

Admit it - you know that you’re going to be sleeping on the floor soon, and you’re already dreading it. You’re sitting there thinking about how uncomfortable it’s going to be. You’re already missing your own bed and you haven’t even left it yet!

If you know that you’re going to be sleeping on the floor, you need to accept that first. Remember that it may be uncomfortable for you for the first couple of days. Keep in mind that you may be aching a little bit afterwards, since you’re not going to be on a super comfortable surface for a while. Know that this adjustment period can take some time, and that’s okay. Eventually you will get used to it.

Choose the Right Floor Space

Sure, sleeping on the floor is not comfortable, but not all floor spaces are the same. Some are going to be much more comfortable than others. Choosing the right space is thus incredibly important. Make sure that you find a place that doesn’t have a lot of clutter or things that could be hazardous to you. It’s worth finding somewhere that’s near to a lightsource that you can use. Finally, try to find somewhere that’s free of dust - having somewhere clean to sleep is important.

Make Your Bed On The Floor

young man sleeping with his dog comfortably on the floor

Once you have found the right space for your bed, it is time to create your own little bed on the floor. This may consist of getting some of your key sleeping essentials, such as pillows. It may help to have a big thick blanket on the floor to give you a layer in between you and the surface for more comfort. Get something like a sleeping bag or a blanket to lie in, and put a thin pillow underneath your head. An additional pillow could also be helpful for your lower back and your knees too.

Play With Sleeping Positions

You probably have a sleeping position that you prefer when you lie in your bed. You may be wondering if you can use that same position when you’re sleeping on the floor.

It’s usually best to try a few different sleeping positions to see what works best for you. You can sleep in a wide variety of different positions - you aren’t just limited to lying on your back. For instance, sleeping on your side can be handy, and sleeping on your stomach can help you to keep your spine properly aligned. Many people do suggest that sleeping on your back is good for easing any back pain though. Ultimately, you’ll just need to play around and see what works the best for you.

Build Up To The Big Sleep

man sleeping on the floor, build up the habit of sleeping on the floor

Sleeping on the floor for a whole night can be pretty daunting when you’ve never done it before. For this reason, you may find it helpful to practice sleeping on the floor first. Try to nap on the floor, for around 2 to 3 hours at first. Then, build up to sleeping on the floor for longer periods of time. Eventually, you will get used to it. You may wish to set your alarm for around 2 to 3 hours and then get back into your bed at first while you’re getting used to it.

It’s also worth having some patience. It may be tough for the first 2 days or so, but it does get easier. Try to stick it out for around a week or two if you can before deciding that you don’t want to do it.

Conclusion

Sleeping on the floor isn’t always comfortable, but it doesn’t have to stay that way! As we’ve discussed in this article, sleeping on the floor can come with a number of benefits so it’s worth trying it about. If you follow the advice we’ve mentioned above, you may even find that it’s your new favorite way to sleep!