How Your Pillow Type is Impacting Your Sleep

What’s your pillow type? We talk a lot about how the quality of your mattress can affect your sleep, and why it’s important to find the right mattress for your sleep style. Both things are also true about your pillow type. Have you considered your own pillow at home and how it’s affecting your sleep?

In this article, we look at how your pillow type is impacting your sleep and help you with the next steps.

The Right Pillow Helps Support Your Spine

First, you want the right pillow for your sleep position. For example, a side sleeper will want a different type of pillow than a back or stomach sleeper.

Next, you want a pillow type that provides you with the right amount of support for your head, your neck, and your spine. Your pillow should support the natural curve of your neck. The wrong pillow can make your neck bend unnaturally, negatively affecting your sleep.

If your pillow is too firm or too soft for the way you sleep, you’ll compromise the quality of your sleep.

For example, if you sleep on your side, but your pillow is too soft, your head moves sideways to find a comfortable spot. For some people who sleep on their stomachs, their too-firm pillow causes them to sleep with their neck bent backward.

To get good quality sleep, look at different types of pillows. See which ones are labeled for the way you sleep: on your back, side, or tummy.

The Right Pillow Helps You Sleep Comfortably

Losing sleep is never the goal. Getting a good night’s rest is imperative to how you function during the day.

If you aren’t sleeping properly, your body doesn’t have time to repair itself. Your brain doesn’t unwind all the way either. So, you can see how important getting a solid dose of sleep can be to your regular daily functioning.

If you sleep on the right pillow type for you, you’ll avoid sleep deprivation. People who don’t get enough sleep may be in a bad mood, they may be impatient and quick to anger. In addition, their reflexes are slow, they aren’t thinking at the top of their game, and they may eat more than they should.

What’s more, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to a wide variety of issues including diabetes, heart disease, and low productivity.

This is just another way your pillow is impacting your sleep, and why it’s good to buy the right one for you.

How to Find the Right Pillow

Do you know the right pillow type for you?

It’s important to know that the pillow type for you may not be the pillow type that works for your partner. So, it’s not a good idea to simply go out and buy two of the same pillows. It’s a personal preference unique to you.

Here are some of the most common different types of pillows you may look at:

• Memory foam pillow: like a memory foam mattress, this type of pillow conforms to you and is supportive. In addition, it contours to your head and neck and cradles you.
• Down pillow: this is a luxurious, soft pillow. You’ll find that you can move it around and position it how you like. These pillows aren’t as supportive as memory foam. Do consider the down fill, though. The higher the fill, the better the pillow.
• Feather pillows: these are more affordable than down, but they aren’t nearly as soft.
• Down alternative: this is an option for people who love down but are allergic to it. Again, it’s not as nice as down, but it is a good option for some.

The goal is to keep your spine in a neutral, straight position. When it comes to pillow types, also consider the following:

• Back and stomach sleepers want to find a thin, soft pillow.
• Side sleepers need a firm pillow.

Final Thoughts

Are you one of the many people who logs the “right amount” of hours each night, but you have trouble getting out of bed every day? Are you always tired even though you’ve “slept for eight hours?”

It could be that your pillow is causing you problems. In addition, if you have a sore neck, or your shoulders are tight, it might be your pillow.

Do you know anyone who won’t leave home without their pillow? They take it to hotels and on long road trips. They might tell you it’s the only way they’ll get a good night’s rest. Well, it turns out they are right!

When combined with the right mattress, your pillow type can impact your sleep. There are many pillow types, and there are benefits of different types of pillows. Do your research and find the best pillow for you.

Photo by Jude Infantini on Unsplash