Sleeping is a very important part of every single day, a good nights sleep helps us wake up refreshed, energised, focused, and able to deal with the kids and all the stresses of life. But, have you ever thought about what the best way to sleep is?

The most common sleeping position in humans is on your side, which strangely is also common with many other mammals. A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience may have found out why. Using MRI scans researchers found that side sleeping removes waste products from the brain more effectively than other sleeping positions. The results of this study adds further support to the concept that sleep serves a specific biological function, one of which is to ‘clean up’ the waste that accumulates while we are awake. It also suggests that the position we sleep in could affect how well your brain can clear this waste.

What does this mean for you?

Since these waste products have a negative impact on the brains processes, if they build up in your brain it would be logical to say, that sleeping on your side will help eliminate more of these waste products and allow the brain to function better. We all know how great you can feel after a good nights sleep, and this may explain why.

It is important to note however, because of this study being done on rats further studies are needed to know how this relates to humans.

So, since I am not a rat what is the best position to sleep in?

This is a question I get asked in practice all the time. The short answer is, I don’t know. There are many info graphics, articles, videos and experts that have their own opinion on this.

The main purpose of your sleeping position is to allow you to have a good restful nights sleep, wake up energised and refreshed, ready for the day to come. What I have found in practice is that we are all different and some people find that they sleep better on their side, others on their back and some even on their tummy.

Whatever sleeping position helps improve your quality of sleep and allow you to wake up refreshed and energised is probably the best position for you.

Here is something you can try to see what works best for you.

1. Try different sleeping positions for a few days each

2. Keep some notes to track how you slept (quality, how many hours, how many times you woke up)

3. Keep some notes to track how your day went. (What was your energy like, your concentration, focus, mood, etc.)

Even though the science is not definitive yet on what the perfect sleeping position is, doesn’t it makes sense that whatever sleeping position allows you to have the best quality of sleep would be the best for you? If this is not something you have done before give it a try, it’s amazing what our body tells us if we spend a bit of time to try and listen.

Has science found the perfect sleeping position?

What does this mean for you?

So, since I am not a rat what is the best position to sleep in?