Is it bad to sleep completely flat?

Is sleeping totally flat bad? Well, it's funny, isn't it? You'd think lying flat would be the most natural thing, right? But it's really not a simple yes or no. It totally depends on your back – how it's shaped, you know?

For some people, lying flat is a nightmare. My aunt, for example, she wakes up stiff as a board if she sleeps without a pillow under her knees. Total agony for her. It messes with the natural curve of her lower back, apparently. Others, like my husband, he’s all good sleeping flat as a pancake. He actually finds it better! Says it keeps his spine aligned. Who knows?

So, really, the best way to figure it out is to just try it. Experiment a bit! See how your back feels in the morning. Wake up achy and grumpy? Maybe try slipping a thin pillow under your knees, or even under your lower back. I remember when I threw my back out gardening (don't even ask!), I had to sleep with a pillow between my knees for weeks! It made a world of difference.

I’ve heard people say – I think I read it online somewhere – that something like 60% of people prefer not to sleep totally flat. Don't quote me on that, though! But it just shows you, there's no one-size-fits-all. You gotta find what works for your body.