Does Sleep Direction Really Matter? Sleeping Facing North a Myth? – The Bedding Planet

Does Sleep Direction Really Matter? Sleeping Facing North a Myth?


All of our lives we’ve been told that getting eight hours of sleep each night is important to our overall health. It lists right up there with food, shelter, and water.

Proper rest is a vital part of our daily lives, and is important to our body because it helps to repair cellular damage. And since it’s not always easy to get a full eight hours of sleep, when we are able to, we feel a sense of accomplishment.

But, what about sleeping direction? Does sleep direction matter? According to science, and other cultural beliefs, sleep direction do matter. If we’re not choosing the best direction to sleep in, regardless of how many hours we put in, we may not be getting a good night’s sleep.

So, if you’ve been going to bed at a decent hour, getting close to the full recommended hours of sleep, have a good mattress and pillows, and still spend a good part of the night tossing and turning; the direction that your head is pointing could be playing a role in your poor quality of sleep.

The Importance of Sleep and Why Direction Matters

does-sleeping-direction-matter

We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, and it prompts our subconscious to begin repairing our damaged bodies. Depriving our bodies of this much-needed rest, even if we don’t feel tired, can compromise our health.

The effects of sleep deprivation can include making poor choices, being susceptible for severe falls, and even car accidents. Sleeping in the right position can lead to a more comfortable sleep, which can lead to better overall health. We’ll explore sleep directions and look at some things to avoid when placing our beds.

Scientists and religious cultures (Indian Ayurvedic tradition; Chinese Feng Shui system) have all weighed in on the best sleep direction. The results have not varied much.

Indian culture believes that our sleep direction determines the kind of energy that comes into our lives. The Chinese Feng Shui system emphasizes the importance of being aware of the direction of our bedroom furniture, as well as the location of the room. The direction plays a big part on the quality of sleep, and how the positive energy flows.

East Sleeping Direction

According to science and other cultures, this is the best direction for your head to be in when sleeping. Sleeping from this direction increases our concentration, improves memory, attracts positivity in our life, and improves health.

This is an ideal sleeping direction for students and teachers. There has also been evidence that people who sleep in this direction have shorter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles as well as eye movements. This means you’re less likely to have sleep disruptions.

North Sleeping Direction

This is the one position that science and other cultures recommend avoiding. This position is considered harmful, and can lead to disruptive sleep caused by disconcerting dreams.

Earth has a magnetic pole, which stretches from north to south (with the positive at the north and the negative at the south). As humans, we have an innate magnetic compass, with the negative pole at the feet and the positive pole at the head.

If the two positive poles are on the same side, scientists believe they will repel each other, which will make for a disturbing night’s sleep.

South Sleeping Direction

This is also a favorable position to lay in when sleeping. Referring back to the earth’s magnetic pole, a mutual attraction (head positive, south negative) creates harmony.

This in turn draws energy into the body. Sleeping in this direction increases happiness, wealth, and prosperity, and most importantly, promotes health.

West Sleeping Direction

Scholars seem to have mixed feelings on sleeping in the west direction. Some believe it’s also ideal, especially for those who are driven by success.

Others believe it’s a neutral position. Still, others believe it promotes unsettling dreams.

Things To Avoid When Placing Your Bed

The direction we sleep in ultimately plays a role in our quality of sleep. In order to be laying in the right direction, the placement of our bed is equally important. Here are some things to avoid when placing your bedroom furniture:

  • Laying opposite of the door with your head or feet facing the door. This is considered dead man or coffin position.
  • Placing your bed in a way that you are able to look through the open doorway.
  • Hanging a mirror on the opposite wall of your bed.
  • Placing your bed under a window; this will lead to disrupted sleep.
  • Placing your bed in a way that it blocks a window.
  • Positioning your bed towards a bathroom door.
  • Placing your bed underneath a beam; this can make you ill.
  • Placing your bed opposite open shelving.

Conclusion

When our body is able to get a good night’s sleep, we’ll feel more energized and this can impact our lives in many positive ways. It can lead to increased productivity at work, better personal relationships, and making better choices.

These things in themselves make for a better quality of life. In addition to planning to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep, factor in sleep direction. If you are currently sleeping in a direction that is not recommended, apply some changes for a brief period of time, to see how you feel the next morning.

Niklas Lampi

My name is Niklas and I'm the author and content operator at The Bedding Planet. I've always had a big interest in bedding and more specifically sleep. If I find something that makes me sleep better, whether that's a lifestyle change or a better bedding environment, I'm ready to share it with the world!

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