There are people in the world who prefer to sleep on the floor. But you have to understand it is not good for everyone, especially when you do not even have a proper mattress. Follow this article to learn more about the disadvantages of sleeping on the floor and how you can make sleeping on the floor comfortable for yourself.
Sleeping on the floor is not a bad thing, in many cultures people prefer to sleep on the floor even if they have a bed. It can be healthy for a person, it keeps your back straight. Some people enjoy sleeping on the floor, perhaps it is not such a good idea for everyone. Not everyone enjoys sleeping on the floor and if a person who is not habitual of sleeping like this tries to sleep on the floor then, they will not be able to sleep at all and it will lead to insomnia.
Sleeping on the floor without any mattress or comforter can make your muscles stiff and your bones will hurt a lot when you wake up. It will also cause you problems when you try to get up because of the low surface. Sleeping on the floor can also negatively affect your health which can cause you a serious illness.
Follow this article to explore more about the disadvantages of sleeping on the floor and how you can make sleeping on the floor comfortable for yourself.
Table of Contents
What are the disadvantages of sleeping on the floor?
There are certain disadvantages of sleeping on the floor, especially for someone who is not habitual of sleeping on the floor. Sleeping directly on the floor without a mattress can cause you to have stiff and tense bones when you wake up. Following are some more disadvantages of sleeping on the floor that you should keep in mind.
- Insomnia
- Exposure to dirt and allergies
- No quality sleep
- It will be hard to get up
- Your bedding will get dirty
- It is not comfortable at all
- Your bed will keep on moving
Insomnia:
A person who sleeps on the floor will not be able to sleep peacefully because they will be uncomfortable the whole time. This will keep them up most of the time and they will not be able to sleep at all. This will lead them to have insomnia because of them sleeping on the floor. All of this will directly influence your daily routine and your health.
Exposure to dirt and allergies:
When you are sleeping on the floor you are exposing yourself to the dirt and bacteria that is on the floor. No matter how many times you clean it, your floor will always have bacteria on them because there are people in your house walking on the same floor where you are going to sleep. This will increase your chances of being sick.
No quality sleep:
A person who is sleeping on the floor will not be able to get any quality sleep because of the rough surface they are laying on. The hard surface will not let a person comfortably sleep and it would ruin the time you could enjoy your quality sleep. You will not be able to rest properly and no matter where you turn the hard surface will make your bones ache.
It will be hard to get up:
When a person is sleeping on the floor, it is natural they will get up in the middle of the night for water or for using the toilet. It will be hard for them to get up and lay back down when the surface is low. Their back will start to ache and it will also cause pressure on their knees and joints. It will never be easy for a person to get up in the morning looking fresh.
Your bedding will get dirty:
We all know that the floor is a dirty place and even if we are not able to see the dirt and bacteria from our naked eye, that does not mean it is not there. When you put a mattress or a folding bed on the floor, it will get dirty and it will expose you to the dirt and bacteria. There is a chance for you to get sick or get infected.
It is not comfortable at all:
Sleeping on the floor is not comfortable at all. No matter how many pillows you place or how thick your mattress is, you will always feel uncomfortable on the floor. You will not be able to rest properly and this might lead to insomnia. Your entire body muscles will ache and you will not be able to start your day on a fresh note.
Your bed will keep on moving:
When you are sleeping on the floor then, your bed will always keep on moving. This is because the floor is a slippery surface and your mattress will keep on moving from its place. This movement will make you feel irritated and you will not be able to sleep comfortably. To avoid that, it is best to not sleep on the floor at all.
What are the advantages of sleeping on the floor?
Just like everything else, sleeping on the floor also has some advantages and disadvantages. Sleeping on the floor can be beneficial for a person who is suffering from a disc problem or for someone who feels hot when they are trying to sleep. The cold floor will provide a cooling sensation to your body and it will help reduce your body heat. Following are some more advantages of sleeping on the floor.
- Cool temperature
- Relief from back pain
- Improves posture
- It helps in sciatica
Cool temperature:
Floor is a cool surface. A person who feels hot at night and is not able to sleep properly will always look for something that can calm their nerves down and something that can reduce the heat from their body. Sleeping on the floor will provide a cooling sensation to a person and it will make them sleep peacefully without having night sweats.
Relief from back pain:
A person who is suffering from back pain should try sleeping on the floor. The hard surface will help them keep their back straight and it will provide relief to them from the pain. The cooling sensation from the floor will also help them sleep peacefully. If a person cannot sleep directly on the floor then, using a mattress is a good idea.
Improves posture:
In some cultures like Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, people prefer to sleep on the floor because it helps them keep their posture straight. It helps a person by relieving them from any back pain, hip pain, or any unstable posture. Sleeping on the floor is an old tradition that has been passed down to these cultures from one generation to another.
It helps in sciatica:
Sciatica is when a person’s disc from their back bone or hip bone is moved. The sciatica nerves in the back bone start to ache and it can cause the hip bone to bulge out. It is recommended by doctors to such patients that they should sleep on the floor. This is because sleeping on the floor will help them keep their posture straight and it will also give relief to them from all the back pain.
What diseases can be caused when a person is sleeping on the floor?
Sleeping on the floor can cause a person to be infected with bacterias and other illnesses because of the exposure to dirt and bacteria. Sleeping on the floor can expose a person to the following diseases.
- Anemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Type 2 diabetes
Anemia:
Anemia is a health condition in which a person does not have enough healthy red blood cells and vitamin C in their body. A person will also have little to no Folic Acid in their body. It is best for an anemic person to sleep comfortably on their bed and avoid sleeping on the floor because the dirt and bacteria on the floor will expose them to dirt and bacteria which might turn into a sickness causing the red blood cells to reduce.
Hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism is a condition where your body is not able to produce the required amount of thyroid hormones that will meet your body needs. It can also cause your metabolism to slow down. It is best that when a person has hypothyroidism they do not sleep on the floor as it can make a person feel more cold than usual and this will not be a good thing for a person who already has less thyroid hormones in their body.
Type 2 diabetes:
Type 2 diabetes is an illness where your body has an abnormal rate of sugar levels in your body. It is a condition where a person’s body refuses to take any insulin and uses sugar way too much.
A person who is battling with type 2 diabetes will have to avoid sleeping on the floor as their body is already weak from being diabetic. Sleeping on the floor will expose them to dirt and bacteria and their body temperature will be cold, this will increase their chances of catching a flu or any other bacterial infection.
How can a person sleep comfortably on the floor?
If you are going to sleep on the floor then, it is necessary that you do it properly. Otherwise, you will not be able to have a good night’s sleep. Following are some things that you need to keep in mind before you sleep on the floor.
- Choose your spot wisely
- Make your bed
- Choose your pillow
- Extra support
- Make it work
Choose your spot wisely:
It is supreme for you to choose your spot wisely. Find a place that is neither too hot nor too cold. In that case, you will not have to get up in the middle of the night and you will be able to sleep peacefully. Knowing where you are going to sleep and if that spot is comfortable or not, it should be your first priority, before you start making your bed.
Make your bed:
You must make a comfortable bed for yourself. Place a thick but comfortable mattress on the floor so your back does not feel hurt and your body muscles are relaxed. This way you will be able to sleep properly and your posture will be straight and comfortable. It is supreme for you to sleep on a comfortable surface if you want to wake up in the morning feeling fresh.
Choose your pillow:
Sleeping directly on the floor without any pillow is not a good idea, your body is not habitual of sleeping on a hard surface like this and your muscles will start to feel tense. You must keep a pillow to support your neck. If you do not have a habit of sleeping with a pillow then, you can keep a thin pillow but do not sleep without one.
Extra support:
It might be difficult for you to sleep on the floor if it is your first time. It can be hard to find a position for yourself in which you can sleep comfortably. Most people return to the comfort of their bed because they are not able to find the right position and no matter how they sleep, it puts a pressure on their bones. In that case, you can add extra pillows, they will provide support to you and help you sleep in a comfortable position. There will be no pressure on your bones and your muscles will not be tense because of the extra support from pillows.
Make it work:
Now when you are sleeping on the floor, you have to make it work. It is good for your sciatica nerves and it is also good for your backbone. Sleeping in one position on the floor can be difficult, your muscles and your bones will feel the pressure.
Add more pillows and make a comfortable bedding for yourself. This will help you sleep on the floor comfortably and your bones will not ache when you wake up in the morning. Also, there are no rules when you are sleeping on the floor, you can sleep however you want.
Conclusion:
Sleeping on the floor is not desired by many people in the world. Though there are some advantages of sleeping on the floor like it improves your posture, it helps your sciatica nerves, and it provides a cooling sensation to your body making it reduce the body heat.
Aside from these advantages, there are some visible disadvantages of sleeping on the floor. Like sleeping on the floor exposes a person to different bacterias and dirt, it puts pressure on the muscles and bones, and it is not comfortable at all because the bed will keep on moving. Also, your bedding will get dirty and this might make you sick. The cold floor can make you sick and the cool temperature might be too much for your body.
Sleeping on the floor is not such a bad thing. In fact, in many cultures it is considered supreme for a person to sleep on the floor. This is because sleeping on the floor provides a good posture and relieves a person from back and hip pain. Do not sleep without any pillows if it is your first time sleeping on the floor.
Sleeping directly on the floor without any support can cause tension in your neck muscles when you wake up. It is best if you sleep with a pillow and you can add extra pillows for your comfort. This way you will be able to sleep properly but if you are suffering from an illness like anemia, type 2 diabetes, or hypothyroidism then, you must avoid sleeping on the floor at all.
