Sleeping In the right position may be your ticket to Youthful Face
ZZZZZzzzz It’s snooze time! Dreamland is calling...
We all want to enjoy a good night sleep after a hard day’s work, right? Who doesn’t deserve that? Maybe your ex? That sounds right to me!You know that feeling after having enough sleep right? Every color looks brighter, you feel smarter and your face is shining… In short, your life feels like a Bollywood movie. Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about that post-sex feelings. Okay folks, let’s be serious here! This state of mind and/or mood also opens the doors to a more productive day. But have you ever thought about your sleeping posture? Most importantly, do you think yours is correct? Or it’s just a comfy one? Have you ever noticed asymmetry on your face? I’m asking too many questions again. Let’s dive in!
Skin aging & sleep position
According to this study, “The predominant sleep position in adults is on the side. This preference increases with age.” I sometimes find myself sleeping on my left side. And each time, I shift my position & reposition myself by turning on my back. Here is why: As I put much more pressure on the left side of my face, over time, the left side of my face became slightly droopier than the right side as a result of sleeping on my left. This may not be obvious to others, but I notice it. And now, think about this: what would be the long term effects of sleeping on my left side if I don’t change it?
More sleep wrinkles?
A 2016 study shows that “Sleep wrinkles develop in response to distortion created when the face is pressed against any sleep surface. Compression, shear, and stress forces result in facial distortion in side or stomach sleeping positions.” As I became more conscious and started thinking of my sleeping position and its effects on my face, my slightly droopier side became much more noticeable. Ouch. Okay then let’s find answers to the questions below.
What’s the ideal sleeping position?
You may be able to sleep in various sleeping positions. Shifting from one position to another is actually good. However if you never change your position, sleeping on your back would probably be ideal. If you have sleep apnea, in other words snoring, this may not be the best option for you. You don’t want your partner to shift from one position to another all night, right?
Getting comfortable with your new sleeping position?
Let’s face it, it’s challenging to change any habit, whether it’s good or bad. But, be determined! Do your best to change your position whenever you catch yourself sleeping on your side a long period of time. Or maybe you should experiment sleeping as illustrated on the picture above? (if you’re on mobile, see picture below)
Lastly, getting enough sleep is more important than anything else. Bear in mind that when you get less than recommended 7 hours of sleep, you’re not yourself!