View Full Version : minimalist/floor sleeping
Anyone try this? Not just having a regular mattress on the floor, but sleeping directly on the floor on a mat or Japanese futon. Seeing this mentioned on a few minimalist sites, I thought I'd try it the past few days.
First, it's really really cold here and my wood floor is on a slab....so it's a bit drafty. My bony fat-free body was not too happy with my setup of yoga mat, folded blankets, fleece pad and sheets and I didn't get much sleep. But I awoke refreshed and feeling great with almost perfect posture. The second night was a bit better with more padding and a wool blanket with a bottom layer of lined picnic blanket.
Nights three and four were spent on my massage table. Much warmer (almost as high as my bed) but not nearly as comfy. The floor pushes your pelvis in line with the rest of your body, instead of sinking into something soft. And the floor's firmness immediately relaxes my entire body and my breath becomes deeper.
I'm going back on the floor tonight with night two's setup. Going to give it a month before I give up. Last night I only got about three hours of sleep but wasn't tired when I woke up and felt good all day. Don't know if I'll ever get rid of a bed, but often imagine what it would be like to not have it in the bedroom, with my mat and blankets folded in the corner.
Your experiences?
mschrisgo2
1-10-17, 2:09am
Not mine, but my grandson who is now 19. He has preferred to sleep on the (carpeted) floor all of his life. He says the bed makes his neck and back hurt and he wakes up grumpy!
Can't really image "wanting too" vs "having too". I have a few times between moves waiting on moving and set up. I am spoiled and a matress is high on my list of creature comforts.
I had a futon I slept on years agao yes the floor was drafty and eventually the futon creased in the middle after folding it away. I would recommend build a platform for it off the floor. Now fast foward 20 years. I was 20 when I had the futon. Now I think a good nights rest is imperative, essential for good health. Health is the true wealth. Nothing worse than not having a good nights rest for me. I suggest investing in a good mattress, even if you get it and keep it on the floor. Get a used ikea like platform for it. If you are still interested on sleeping on the floor, talk to a Japanese or Korean person they could giude you.
ToomuchStuff
1-10-17, 11:58am
I have and still do when house sitting or visiting/staying with others. The only time it sucks is when there is no good pillow (typically some couch pillow). It feels much better on my back, throwing a blanket down underneath, helps with the heat, as well as sleeping in front of a space heater in winter.
I didn't mind sleeping on the floor when I was young, although I always had a bed.
Now I'm all about the comfort.
Having been raised on the tale that cockroaches will come out and feast on the microcritters in our eyelashes I always get creeped out at the thought of sleeping on the bare floor....though I love camping so go figure!
My husband will pull out an airmattress and sleep on the floor when his back is bad but I don't think he's tried the bare floor.
My experience: thin foam mat under sleeping bag on ground is much softer than thin foam mat under blankets on wood floor or carpet...unless you sleep on a turtle. Yea, did that.
Last night I was on the floor again and slept wonderfully. Bugs do have me worried, especially the huge spiders we have here. I don't want to be in an episode of Monsters Inside Me.
I start out on my back without a pillow; when I turn on my side, I wake up and place a small pillow between my knees and grab a pillow for my head. The problem is when I go onto my back again; I don't wake up and continue to use the head pillow. Supposedly you can train yourself to stay on your back all night (no wrinkles!). Time will tell if I keep this up. My bed will have to be a bit more simple than my pile of mats, pads and blankets.
Even just a few minutes of laying on a carpeted floor is very relaxing now. My body aligns perfectly right away.
ToomuchStuff
1-11-17, 1:27am
Actually this thread makes me wonder if one should try an electric blanket on the floor? (under the person)
why are you wanting to sleep on the floor? is it a need or a want, guess I missed this.
why are you wanting to sleep on the floor? is it a need or a want, guess I missed this.
My memory foam matress, which isn't very old and wasn't very expensive, is sagging in the center. My nights are spent stuck in a pit, with my butt sinking and my shoulders pushed forward. During the day, my posture is horrible and I can't straighten myself out.
So, while reading minimalist sites, one thing led to another and I stumbled across floor sleeping, aka paleo sleeping. Minimal padding, on a floor or hard surface. Supposedly grounds you as well and does wonders for your back and posture. So I thought, why not? My first night or two weren't very comfortable but I felt great when I woke up. My main problem is the cold right now. Sleeping on a heated blanket/mat would be nice, but then I'm being exposed to all of that. Now the firm surface doesn't bother me at all. And I'm not slumped over in the car anymore (have had to adjust my rear view mirror too!)
Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMNgSDEwp24
I've thought about it often but never tried it - except when camping. I love the idea for reasons of health and simplicity. It won't happen as long as I live with my husband - he is totally not into it and I'm too driven by immediate comfort to sleep on the floor when there's a bed right beside me - 😄
ToomuchStuff
1-12-17, 1:13am
Not sure what you mean by being exposed to all that. My understanding, in older, traditional Japanese homes, they sleep on a "mattress" that is at the thickest 3". I would think Cotton or some natural fiber might be warm enough, yet thin enough to allow the floor to do its job.
Gardenarian
1-12-17, 2:07am
I sleep on a 4" futon. I have a bedframe with a piece of wood over the slats for support. Our floors get very dirty from the dogs.
Here is the futon I have: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Serta-Liberty-Futon-Mattress/17236845
I have the soundest sleep I've had in my life, and my back (ruptured discs, stenosis, arthritis) feels much better too.
This feels more like a mat than a mattress as we know it. It is also biodegradable and easy to move.
After thinking about this, My Aunt(now passed) slept on a bed roll her entire life. I remember going over in the morning and she would be rolling it up and setting behind the chair. Uncle slept in the bed upstairs.
I meant being exposed to electrical currents (when I said "all that"). Don't know how safe they are when they are right next to your body, like electric blankets. My massage table at the spa had one and that was probably the clients' favorite thing! Korean floors are usually heated, which must be lovely for everything including sleeping.
Carpeting on a floor without concrete as a base might be perfect for me with just a thin mat, but that's not what I have here. I love rolling it up and not seeing it in the room during the day (my regular bed is still here). My bedroom could have a whole new look without it.
Gardenarian, that mat looks interesting. I'll see how simple I can keep it while I'm still trying it out before buying something. Putting that on my bed instead of the regular mattress would work too, but then the bed is still here. But the bugs can't reach me!
I need a new mattress but not in the budget.
For me getting up from the floor would be a challenge now that I am older and out of shape.
I am a frequent scurry to the bathroom in the middle of the night person.
I have an electric blanket and it really helps my joints and is less expensive to use.
Yes, Korean floors are heated with pipes that hold hot water or steam. I wish I had that system!
Right now I have a box spring, but my next bed would probably be a platform for a mattress to save money.
If I ever do get to move, I will toss the old bed for sure.
ToomuchStuff
1-13-17, 12:00pm
I meant being exposed to electrical currents (when I said "all that"). Don't know how safe they are when they are right next to your body, like electric blankets. My massage table at the spa had one and that was probably the clients' favorite thing! Korean floors are usually heated, which must be lovely for everything including sleeping.
How close are you to an outlet at anytime during the day? Ever used an EMF or Gauss meter?
iris lilies
1-13-17, 1:26pm
After thinking about this, My Aunt(now passed) slept on a bed roll her entire life. I remember going over in the morning and she would be rolling it up and setting behind the chair. Uncle slept in the bed upstairs.
That is interesting! Did she do it for health or,philosophical reasons, or?
In his book, The Story of the Human Body, D. Lieberman suggests that the desire for comfort sometimes overrules our behaviour and we do things that are more comfortable but less than optimal for the body. Sleeping on mattresses is one of them according to his book, https://www.amazon.ca/Story-Human-Body-Evolution-Disease/dp/030774180X
In BodyStories, Andrea Olsen talks about "constructive rest" in which you simply lie on the floor (on carpet or a towel or thin mat) for ten or more minutes, to help with posture, alignment and relaxation. I have found this very useful, and have asked students to try it and provide feedback...they loved it. When I haven't done it for awhile, my next time on the floor includes quite an adjustment. I do find that my body continues to shift during the entire period of rest, settling quite gradually into a relaxed position. I always feel better after doing it for awhile. Here is the link for BodyStories: https://www.amazon.ca/Bodystories-Experiential-Anatomy-Andrea-Olsen/dp/158465354X
I don't sleep on the floor, though, and I think climate and wanting to be near my spouse are probably the main reasons. I might try it once just for the sake of curiosity, though.
I tried the suggestion of lying down on the floor for 10 minutes. I noticed a positive difference in my lower back and shoulders. I'm going to keep doing it for a week to see if I still feel it working. I cannot see me ever sleeping on the floor, but have entertained the idea of a plywood base for our bed and just a mattress. There is another person involved who might object...must work on that.
ApatheticNoMore
1-14-17, 5:24pm
I have often thought how wasteful beds are, there are often made of very toxic and non-bio-degradable materials (except if they are pure latex and organic cotton or something), they have to generate a massive amount of large and rather tosci waste especially if you are buying new mattresses every 10 years (ridiculous nonsense advice designed to get you to buy mattresses imo :~) ). But I have a working bed now, so if it ain't broke ...
A few minutes on a carpeted floor is very relaxing. I tried it at work in the copy room while making many copies, hoping that no one will see me. Sure enough, the Executive Director walked in and asked if I was OK. She though I passed out. I explained that my back just needed a a quick rest.
It's interesting how your body just sinks into the floor; breathing deeply is easy when relaxed that way.
ToomuchStuff, I supposed I'm being exposed to all sorts of currents during the day. My digital alarm clock is very near me at night. Today I saw electric mattress pads starting at $30 and was tempted to buy one. Last night I used more blankets over me, which kept my front half warm. It's my back or sides that feels the cold, even with all my layers underneath me. I just lay and turn in the spot that my body has warmed up a bit since the rest of my bed is cold.
Funny I should come across this thread today, since I've been experimenting with floor sleeping for the past two nights. I've done it before, but only for a night at a time using a thermarest backpacking air mattress, which is pretty thin.
For the past two nights I've just slept on a carpeted floor with a quilt folded over double. I slept okay, neither great nor badly. (I don't sleep well normally as a rule, which is one reason I'm experimenting.) The first night I woke up a number of times but went back to sleep quickly. I was a bit stiff upon rising, but not much more so than I would have been had a slept in my bed, and the stiffness went away quickly.
Most of the sources I've looked at say it takes a week or so to get used to sleeping on the floor. I may go to a futon if I decide I want a bit more padding. I slept on a futon for a couple of years in grad school and found it quite comfortable. I like the idea of not having to deal with a bed. Being able to roll up your bedding and tuck it into a closet is very appealing to me.
I'm not sure about the health implications. Supposedly sleeping on a hard surface is good for your back, but only if you sleep on your back, and I'm a sort of side/stomach sleeper. I might try to train myself to sleep on my back, which I'm told is doable, although that's not supposed to be good for snorers, and I snore.
I'll keep fiddling around with it, and report anything interesting I find.
oldhat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMNgSDEwp24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSJyzEit9Sg She shows ways to be comfortable sleeping on your side and stomach.
I'm so jealous of people with carpeting over wood floors!! My mats are comfortable for 7 hours of sleeping, but any longer and it's not as good. If I were sick and bedridden, I'd be back on the bed or the couch.
Ponymom, what have you discovered in all your research about mouth breathing when sleeping on the floor and the spine is straight? Does it change the neck position as well?
Ponymom, what have you discovered in all your research about mouth breathing when sleeping on the floor and the spine is straight? Does it change the neck position as well?
I haven't found anything about mouth breathing when searching floor sleeping. Maybe that would come under a search for breathing while meditating or yoga?
Update!
Since the floor has been really cold, I've removed my memory foam mattress and replaced it with my padding, on the bed resting on my old boxspring. It's an older one, (possibly has springs in it), and very firm. It's been much warmer and just as comfortable.
After three months, if I'm going to continue doing this, I may splurge on one of these: http://futonbedsfromjapan.com A bit more than I wanted to spend, but the size will fit perfectly on my bed, should i decide to stay there. Or move to the floor later. My pile of pads and blankets looks messy, and I'm already in the habit of folding it during the day and making it up again at night.
I love the fact that the shikifuton can be aired in the sun, lightly beaten (sounds like a recipe) to remove dust, mites, etc. So much healthier than a regular mattress. And they're gorgeous! I've looked into a few others on Amazon, but they're too heavy, or too thin and longer than my bed.
Traditional kakebuton (comforter) seem really nice and are filled with silk, making them lightweight but warm/cool depending on the temperature. Those are really expensive; my old quilt will do just fine.
I like the fact of minimalist living - I know those who sleep without a pillow, some who sleep on the floor, etc. I have to admit the whole spider thing kinda freaks me out, why I don't know. They certainly can crawl up the wall and if the want to crawl in my ears, lay eggs so they will hatch and eat my brains out - it won't matter if I am on the floor or in a bed.
Most nights I migrate to the living room couch to escape my wife's snoring and the overheated bedroom. Hmmm maybe I will try it tonight!
freshstart
1-30-17, 1:45am
I give you credit, I don't think I could stand it. I bought a mattress 12 yrs ago with a warranty, it sagged so much they actually gave me a new mattress. But it wasn't a great one and it too started to sag (I'm chubby but not THAT chubby). I put a 4in memory foam with a cooling gel topper on top. Been like a brand new mattress and the cooling gel topper really helps with menopausal night sweats, lol.
freshstart, guess where the fluid from the nightsweats are now? I was lead to links about what's in your mattress, and you can lose up to a pint of fluid a night! The shikifutons are folded daily and aired out in the sun regularly to prevent mold. Can't do that with a mattress. People who keep their regular mattress on a wood floor may have mold growing.
We get really fast furry spiders here, as well as those little black bugs with pinchers. For now I'll continue sleeping on the boxspring.
freshstart
1-31-17, 1:26pm
I have a waterproof mattress pad over the whole thing that I wash weekly. There's no way I would let those night sweats get into my mattress, gross
freshstart
1-31-17, 3:24pm
plus I have 2 dogs sleeping on the bed, I learned the hard way to get a waterproof mattress cover many years ago, lol
Sloeginfizz
1-31-17, 9:17pm
The person at the mattress store where we bought our memory foam mattress told us to always have a waterproof cover on a memory foam mattress. He said beyond the mold issue that sweat can degrade the foam prematurely.
I cringe at the thought of sleeping on an electric blanket. Try a hot water bottle for warmth.
My wife and I slept on a futon for 15+ years, until she was fairly along in her pregnancy with our daughter, and decided a "real bed" would work better, as it would keep our Basset Hounds from stealing the covers. We always found the futon pretty comfortable and easy to sleep.
I sleep in the woods on the cold cold ground a lot, but I usually build a small barrier of pine boughs and/or use a small foam pad to keep the temperature from wicking out of my body.
The past several years I've switched to using non-spreader-bar hammocks in the woods, and it's been the most comfortable sleep I've ever had. Two years ago I slept for about 45 days in a row in one of those hammocks, set up between two trees outside my bedroom door, and it was just fine. (I couldn't sleep inside, my wife had a terrible medical condition requiring constant attention and infection control measures, so I slept where I could provide care but not cause issues.)
I've made a few changes to my sleeping. A few days ago I gave away my mattress, so now I'm using my padding on my old boxspring. I've also added some of the soft rubber interlocking floor mats as an extra cushion. Also still have thick cardboard under that to cover up the thick wires of the boxspring. Still comfy, but an ugly mess of layered padding.
It looks like I'll be ordering the traditional futon from Japan pretty soon. That will either go on the boxspring, or remove that and use the futon over a piece of wood (and locking tiles) that rests on the slats. It will look really strange but may feel as supportive as the floor.
My wife and I slept on a futon for 15+ years, until she was fairly along in her pregnancy with our daughter, and decided a "real bed" would work better, as it would keep our Basset Hounds from stealing the covers. We always found the futon pretty comfortable and easy to sleep.
I sleep in the woods on the cold cold ground a lot, but I usually build a small barrier of pine boughs and/or use a small foam pad to keep the temperature from wicking out of my body.
The past several years I've switched to using non-spreader-bar hammocks in the woods, and it's been the most comfortable sleep I've ever had. Two years ago I slept for about 45 days in a row in one of those hammocks, set up between two trees outside my bedroom door, and it was just fine. (I couldn't sleep inside, my wife had a terrible medical condition requiring constant attention and infection control measures, so I slept where I could provide care but not cause issues.)
I want to sleep outside so badly. Sometimes in the summer, I stay outside in the lounge chair until very late and I'm so tempted to just stay there until morning. It's so peaceful and comfortable. I don't because I have no privacy fence, and I'd feel too exposed to people walking through the park.
I've never even been camping. DH was a Marine and "camped out" in Norway up near the Arctic Circle and swears he will never camp out again. I feel like I'm missing out on something. Maybe I'll at least find a couple of trees to string up a hammock. I have a private corner of my lot dedicated to my Zen herb/pollinator garden, so maybe I could set up camp back there. I'll take my dog.
Catherine, I quit Girl Scouts because of camping....outhouses...bugs...musty smelling sleeping bags, cots, cabins. But now at 68 something in me wants to at least sleep on the screened in porch one night. The sense of feeling exposed is a deterrent and skunks, bears, deer. The screened porch seems to be a good way to try it.
I love some of the older homes in my mother-in-law's neighborhood that have sleeping porches up on the second floor.
My shikibuton from Japan has arrived and I slept on it for the first time last night. It was absolutely heavenly! I put it on the floor, so I had firm, level support. The futon itself is quite thick, about 4" of pure fluff, and it was comfortable no matter which way I lay. The interlocking floor mats were underneath it, and I used my own flannel sheet set. In the future I may just use two flat sheets for the bottom and top. The futon itself is lovely and came with clips to secure it while hanging outside on a railing. I also bought a removable cotton cover to protect it.
Can't wait to go back to bed tonight! Since it's so much fluffier than my meager pile of pads, I wasn't sure I would like it but I slept comfortably all night and felt great in the morning.
Did you really order it from Japan? Probably cheaper than a traditional western bed is.
Did you really order it from Japan? Probably cheaper than a traditional western bed is.
Yup. I bought a single, and with the cotton cover it was about $475. Could've bought a cheap mattress for that price or less, but it would give out just like the last one.
Here's the site: http://www.futonbedsfromjapan.com It's beautifully made and was delivered very quickly. Watch the video "Zero to futon in 173 seconds". So much of it is done by hand; seeing it all get stuffed into the cover is pretty cool.
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