How to Sleep on the Sofa Without Harming Yourself

Much in this life is uncertain, but one thing is certain: at some point in your future, you will have to sleep on the couch. No matter how old and successful you are, the likelihood of you having to sleep on the couch like a college student with clothespins is never zero.

And sleeping on a sofa or couch can be hazardous to your health. This experience often causes back and neck pain due to limited space, leading to suboptimal sleeping positions, as well as a feeling of numbness in the limbs called paresthesia. While these negative side effects are not serious, if your evening on the couch is a one-time experience, regularly sleeping on the couch can lead to chronic pain and poor sleep quality , which can also have a negative impact on your health. If you’ve been stuck on the couch for a while, take care of your health.

Prepare the area

Sofas and couches simply aren’t conducive to safe, healthy sleep. However, there are steps you can take to improve the physical condition that is causing back pain, nerve impingement, and other problems.

• If you can, use a real pillow—sofa pillows are not designed to properly support your head and neck.
• Remove the back cushions to create more space.
• Stabilize seat cushions by placing cardboard or wood underneath them and wrapping them in a sheet or blanket to prevent them from spreading out. Alternatively (and preferably), add a sofa-sized throw to turn the sofa into something like a mattress , or buy a trendy sofa sleep set .
• The sofas are kind of rough and dirty. They are filled with potential allergens and are usually not cleaned regularly. In addition, they often contain hazardous compounds that make them fire-resistant, but at the same time harmful to health. Adding sheets will help protect you from roughness. If you don’t have sheets, you can wrap blankets or even towels around your pillows.

Position yourself

By making your sofa as comfortable and inviting as possible, you can reduce the likelihood of injury and other health problems by being smart about how you sleep.

• Your sleeping position can have a huge impact on the quality of your sleep and your likelihood of self-harm. Soft, sinking sofa cushions are best for sleeping on your back, but this only works if you have room to stretch out. Avoid hanging your legs over the armrest, as this puts pressure on the nerves and impedes circulation.
• If you can’t stretch, it’s best to sleep on your side in the fetal position. It may be helpful to place a pillow between your knees: it will help maintain the correct position of the pelvis and spine, preventing back pain.
• Keep your head slightly elevated. If you don’t have a real pillow, try stacking several pillows so that your neck is at a slight upward angle.
• If your sofa is too small for you to find a comfortable position, consider moving the cushions to the floor. This will give you more space to work with.

Sleeping on the couch is never a good idea, and over a long period of time it can even be harmful. Taking some steps to protect yourself can help, as can finding a real bed as soon as possible.