If you never make your bed, you create a warm, moist environment perfect for dust mites, bacteria, and fungi to thrive on your dead skin cells, potentially worsening allergies, asthma, and skin issues. While making your bed traps moisture, leaving it unmade allows bedding to air out, which helps reduce mites and create a healthier sleep space, though a completely unmade bed can feel less tidy and may harbor more allergens over time if not washed regularly, so airing it out for a few hours before making it is often recommended.
There was a study done that showed that leaving the bed unmade allows the bed to air out and dry out from the sweat of the body after sleep. Allowing the bed to dry out thoroughly can kill the dust mites that can inhabit beds. Given that dust mites can produce allergens, it can lead to a variety of issues.
shows that leaving your unmade bed unmade helps to air and dry it out, making your bed a less hospitable place for dust mites, which can cause allergies and asthma. Plus sharing your bed with thousands of tiny mites is pretty gross, lets be honest.
Dust mites thrive on moisture. If you make the bed, it keeps the moisture in, which “helps them survive and reproduce”, says Dr Mezher. And leaving the covers pulled back? Figura says it “allows that moisture to dry up and drastically reduces the number of dust mites that can survive”.
Gen Z skips top sheets for simplicity, saving time on bed-making, avoiding tangles, and preferring the feel of a duvet directly against them or a simple quilt, seeing the extra layer as an unnecessary hassle and extra laundry, though some still use them for hygiene or temperature control, preferring to wash the duvet cover more frequently.
The healthiest sleeping position often depends on individual needs, but side sleeping (especially the left side) is generally favored for reducing back/neck pain, aiding digestion (acid reflux), improving circulation, and helping with sleep apnea by keeping airways open, while back sleeping is great for spinal alignment but can worsen snoring and reflux. Stomach sleeping is usually discouraged due to neck and back strain.
The 3-2-1 bedtime method is a simple sleep hygiene strategy: stop eating 3 hours before bed, stop working 2 hours before bed, and stop using screens (phones, tablets, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping your body transition to rest by reducing stimulants and digestive load for better sleep quality. A more detailed version adds 10 hours (no caffeine) and 0 (no snoozing) for a 10-3-2-1-0 rule.
Hygiene and Allergen Control: Sleeping without sheets exposes your mattress to the accumulation of dead skin cells, body oils, and potential dust mites. Sheets act as a barrier, maintaining a clean and hygienic sleeping environment.
Trapped mucus can infect your lungs and ultimately lead to pneumonia. Too much lying down can also lead to weak muscles and bones if you are not using them. Business Insider says every week bedridden causes 1% of bone density loss which makes them brittle.
“Bed rotting” is a Gen Z trend where individuals spend extended time in bed not for sleep or illness, but for passive activities like scrolling or watching content. 🛌 Popularized on TikTok, it is often framed as self-care and a response to stress, burnout, and societal pressure.
According to recently published research involving 172,321 adults, men who get adequate sleep live about five years longer than men who don't. For women, it's two years. However, about a third of adults cut sleep short, raising their risk of heart attack, dementia and diabetes, among other health conditions.
The koala is famous for sleeping around 20-22 hours a day, which is about 90% of the day, due to their low-energy diet of eucalyptus leaves that requires extensive digestion. Other extremely sleepy animals include the sloth (up to 20 hours) and the brown bat (around 20 hours), with some snakes like the ball python also sleeping up to 23 hours daily.
Approximately one-half (49%) turn down their covers every night or almost every night before going to bed, while about seven in ten (71%) make their bed every day or almost every day.
Thus, sleeping only 2 hours does not provide significant health benefits but is better than not sleeping at all. Ideally, you should aim for at least 90 minutes of sleep.
Staying in bed for too long can cause physical health problems like insomnia, muscle weakness and/or blood clotting. Isolation and loneliness may cause mental health problems like depressive symptoms and anxiety.
Sleeping naked may help regulate body temperature, potentially improving sleep quality by preventing overheating or restlessness. Going without tight clothing at night may support vaginal health, improve male fertility, and enhance intimacy with a partner through skin-to-skin contact.
The doppelbett sleep hack involves having two single mattresses within one bedframe, rather than a couple sharing the same double or king-size mattress, as is more common in the UK.
Sleeping On the Floor May Help Improve Posture
This supportive nature of the floor itself will likely allow you to maintain better posture and alignment than if you were to sleep on an ultra-soft mattress which could begin sagging after the very first use in some instances.
Signs of poor core sleep (deep, restorative sleep) include waking up foggy, daytime fatigue/energy crashes, poor concentration, irritability, frequent illness, memory issues, and mood swings, indicating your brain and body aren't fully repairing and consolidating memories. You might also experience increased sugar cravings, slow muscle recovery, and a weakened immune system.
In his piece, he revealed that through his years of research, he's found that rumination is the biggest thing that causes poor sleep. He says that being worried about something at night has affected his own ability to fall asleep.
Our circadian rhythm functions by light and dark cycles and therefore an ideal sleep time is 10pm – 6am give or take ½ an hour either way so a full 8 hours of sleep is achieved each night. Even if you are retired or not working, this is an essential component of good sleeping habits.
The unhealthiest sleeping position is generally considered to be sleeping on your stomach (prone position), as it forces your neck to twist and flattens the natural curve of your spine, leading to neck, back, and shoulder pain, numbness, and poor sleep quality. An overly curled fetal position is also harmful, causing joint stiffness and restricted breathing, while sleeping on your back can worsen snoring and sleep apnea for some individuals.
To 100% fall asleep, combine a consistent schedule, a cool, dark room, and a wind-down routine (no screens, relaxing activities like deep breathing or hot baths) to calm your mind and body, using techniques like the 4-7-8 breath or military method if you're still awake, and get up to do something boring if you can't sleep after 15 minutes to break the anxiety cycle.
While it might look a little strange, sleeping with a pillow between your knees can be excellent for your sleep health. From back pain relief to better sleep posture, an extra pillow for your legs has tons of benefits for side sleepers. Plus, it's downright comfortable.