# How do you sleep? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 1, 2001, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345 "2001-04-01T06:00:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/41 "2001-04-03T02:39:44Z")
Well, let me see. I must sleep with a fan on (living in Arizona, I have to; it is way too hot without). I sleep in whatever I can find, which is usually a nightshirt or a shirt and boxers. I do not sleep naked because for one thing, I am just too scary, and I have this fear that if there is ever a fire I will have to rush out naked. Did I also mention I live with my parents? My mother has a habit of trying to wake me up in the morning. Just leave it to your imaginations.I do not use the top sheet, just the comforter. I must have tons of pillows around me, just a psychological thing. It is comforting to me. I sleep on my left side, facing my door, with my back toward the wall. Another psychological thing. I am beginning to think I need some psychiatric help with my sleeping. I need complete silence, except for my fan. I need complete darkness, if not then, no sleep tonight! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/42 "2001-04-03T04:27:16Z")
Like **Narile** , I prefer cold rooms and I’ve got a body pillow, too. I don’t need total silence or darkness, but I do need to have the bedroom door closed. There’s comfort in privacy, I guess… [sub]especially since I prefer to sleep wearing nothing or very little.[/sub] It usually takes me half an hour to fall asleep, regardless of what position I’m lying in. In fact, my position doesn’t make much of a difference to me; I’ve fallen asleep and awakened lying on my stomach, back, and sides. I do know that I sleep better and I wake more readily when someone else is in bed with me. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/43 "2001-04-03T06:27:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sapphire Bullet \* > \*\*The only way I **cannot** sleep is on my back. Somewhere in my childhood I got the weird idea that there was a baker hiding in the ceiling just waiting to drop a pie on my face. If I slept on my stomach or my side I was safe from the mustachioed pie man. I am not _as_ afraid as I used to be…but you never know! > > A while back I drew the pie man for my father and he said he looked like an animated character from a bakery commercial he saw when we lived in Chicago. Any of you Chicago folks familiar with a crazed pie dropping baker? \*\* Was it the [Purple Pieman](http://www.oz.net/~carebear/Purple_Pieman.gif) from Strawberry Shortcake? –Tim ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/44 "2001-04-03T06:41:03Z")
I seem to recall that many of us sleep in the alltogether **Audrey** so you are in good company. [sub]Me[/sub] My brother can sleep standing up, he claims that he learned it at VMI, and I see no reason to doubt that. but I have seen him do it, can’t see why he doesn’t fall over, but he doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/45 "2001-04-03T11:49:51Z")
I feel for you insomniacs. Someone once posted a thread about the good things in life, and I added that few things in life are as satisfying as a good night’s sleep. I’m fortunate in that I can sleep just about anywhere and have no trouble at all getting to sleep. My sleep-time comes and I’m out like a light. I sleep naked on either side that faces away from the SO if we’re together (I don’t like to breathe in other people’s faces and I don’t like them to breathe in mine - particularly with sleep-induced bad breath). I can’t sleep on my stomach due to a bad back - it just puts too much pressure on my bad discs. I like to have the window open, no matter how cold it is. It doesn’t have to be open much, just enough to let fresh air in. I can’t sleep if the bedroom door is closed. Pleasant dreams. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/46 "2001-04-03T15:09:40Z")
Left side, naked, hugging a pillow, fan on, dark but not too dark. I _have_ to have something over me though, no matter the temperature. I trace that last one back to one of those creepy scary stories I was told as a kid. I’m also one of those people that have trouble falling asleep in the spooning position. I can’t stand having anyone’s breathing right by my ear. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/47 "2001-04-03T15:22:35Z")
I sleep in t-shirt and shorts, or sweats if it’s cold. I usually go to sleep on the couch with the TV on. I always wake up to pee around 2-3 hours after I fall asleep, and then I go to bed. I need the fan on in the bedroom, for the white noise to drown out the TV that my husband is watching. We rarely go to bed together (to sleep!), but if we do, we cuddle for a bit, then I roll on to my right side. I eventually wake up on my stomach. Light doesn’t bother me too much, but music does. I can’t go to sleep on the couch with a music channel on the TV. Weird! The best channel for background noise is ESPN. ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/48 "2001-04-03T15:36:46Z")
Nekkid, on my right side, wrapped atound my body pillow. **That\_darn\_fiance** claims I love it, more than her. In fact, according to her it’s female and she calls it “skank” It’s her fault, she bought it for me. Darkness and quiet is good too, but not absolutely neccassary. In fact, when I’m just napping I like some noise and light, it keeps me from falling to deeply asleep. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve napped with Pink Floyd’s _the Wall_ going. **Moi** says I sleep too much. ---
**Author:** ![Gambit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gambit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gambit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/49 "2001-04-04T02:39:12Z")
Usually, flat on my back with my hands folded and resting on my middle (yeah, it sounds like of ghoulish, I know.) I find good music to be terribly relaxing as I drift to sleep…it can even be good loud music, as long as it has harmonies. If the flat on my back method doesn’t work, it would be on my side in the fetal position facing away from my bedroom wall. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2001, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/50 "2001-04-04T22:50:33Z")
In my classic men’s tailored pajams: flannel in winter, cotton in summer. Bedside light on, TV on with volume turned down. Can of Fresca at the ready on the nightstand for nighttime thirsts. (When I sleep with BF, he nixes my pajamas and turns off the light. Harder to get to sleep, but he’s pretty cool, so I deal.) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2001, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/51 "2001-04-04T23:18:34Z")
I fall asleep really easily, according to my wife. On my back, on either side, on my face, dark, middle of the day, bed, couch, curled against her, lying half on top of her, silence, radio on, doesn’t matter. (TMI alert: She says she can tell I’m asleep because apparently I pop a boner. Don’t ask, I don’t know.) She, on the other hand, has real difficulty falling asleep. She has to be on her side of the bed, I can’t be touching her (meaning if I curl up against her, she waits until I fall asleep and then pushes me off), the radio has to be on, etc., etc. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/52 "2001-04-06T17:24:50Z")
**I…am a sleep whore.** There, I said it. I feel so much better. Anytime, anywhere In the dark or with a light Even when the sun is bright In the house on a nice soft bed or On the sofa, I sleep like the dead In a car or on a plane even on a rickety train Oh, I can sleep most anywhere I think I’ll come back as a hibernating bear (apologies to Dr. Suess) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/53 "2001-04-06T18:05:04Z")
Okay…coming from another insomniac. I have no problems falling asleep usually. It’s staying there. I have been known to not be able to stay asleep because someone \*\* in another room\*\* was turning pages while reading (this same girlfriend once woke me up by walking barefoot on a carpeted floor. Good thing I live alone). I cannot sleep alone. Enter my cat, Beru into the picture (and no, before anyone suggests it, I wouldn’t sleep with my cat. I don’t know where she’s been, for one thing. And you’re not just sleeping with your cat. You’re sleeping with every cat your cat’s ever slept with. All nine lives. The last thing I need is to come down with genital fleas or something. Although…sandpaper tongue…). Over the last few years, my sleep style has evolved into this: TV on (I have OCD, so it HAS to be on the same channel every night), me laying on my back, two pillows under my head, one over my face with my left arm laying over it, my cat laying on my right side, somewhere within arm’s reach. Of course, she doesn’t always comply, so that serves as a detriment sometimes. I may average 3-4 hours a night, factoring in the amount of times I wake up. Usually once an hour, and awake anywhere from 5-45 minutes, typically. I’ve had sleep studies, etc. done, but the general consensus is that, since my waking doesn’t disrupt my sleep cycle, it’s more annoying than harmful. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Walter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Sweet\_Walter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Walter)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/54 "2001-04-06T18:18:38Z")
au natural, socks in the winter. Trying to teach myself to sleep on my back. My shoulders take a peating from judo and paddling, and if I sleep on one of them too long it will ache all day. ---
**Author:** ![AerialCartwheels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@AerialCartwheels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AerialCartwheels)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/55 "2001-04-07T03:21:41Z")
Before I get into bed, at home, I have to make sure the lights in the basement are all the way off (we have dimmers and when they aren’t turned off all the way the screws on the switch plate get hot.) and I have to make sure there isn’t anything in the way of the furnace in the laundry room (I have fire issues). My bedroom door has to be shut. At my dorm I have to double check before I go to bed that my alarm is set and that the bathroom door is locked and the room door is locked. I tend to sleep in the fetal postion on my right side facing the wall. I have my tee-shirt sheets (anyone tried them?? They are so unbelievably comfortable!),heavy blanket, another heavy blanket, a thin comforter, and a heavy comforter. I cuddle with my blankie (don’t laugh!) and my froggie stuffed animal. Before I actually fall asleep I have to say my prayers. I’ve been saying the same ones as a sort of ritual since 7th grade. I saw a program on TV about aliens and I was scared to death that they would abduct me; so I figured God would protect me from them if I said prayers. I say an “Our Father”, two “Hail Marys”, a “Glory Be” (I was in Catholic school at the time!)and a little night-time prayer that I was taught as a child. Its actually very comforting. They have to be in that order too and if I don’t do them right I have to start over. Neurotic huh? Sometimes I just fall asleep while in the process of saying them. Well I guess that was probably TMI! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/56 "2001-04-07T05:44:18Z")
Well, I’ve always demanded near-total quiet and darkness. Other than that, I don’t have any real demands. I fall asleep in chairs, sofas, on the floor, etc… quite frequently. And I think that changing clothes before going to sleep is a waste of time, unless I’m dressed formally. ---
**Author:** ![Alibi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Alibi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alibi)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/57 "2001-04-07T06:27:20Z")
I rarely post, yet I feel I must reply to this question because I’m so proud of my sleeping habits. I sleep on two folding gymnastics matts, folded. This is 24" inches in width, which is the best part. I sleep in a sleeping bag, because stuff hanging over the edge bothers me. Excessness bothers me. I sleep on my stomach the majority of the time. I cannot sleep on my sides. It is a rare occasion when I can sleep on my back. I sleep in underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/58 "2001-04-07T13:16:18Z")
badly. I have no problem falling asleep, but… I work graveyard, so I sleep in the middle of the day. I need darkness, so all I can do is put cardboard in the windows and keep the door closed. The fan _must_ be on at all times. And I must be nekkid. I will wear socks if my feet are cold. I realize that a nekkid man in socks looks absolutely ridiculous, but what are you gonna do? I have sleep apnea. I have to wear a CPAP mask(continuous positive air pressure) or I stop breathing, and when I am breathing, snore loud enough to shake the windows. The mask, though uncomfortable, is a godsend. Like I said, I have no problem falling asleep, but I have considerable difficulty _staying_ asleep. I average 4 to 5 hours a day. I just wake up, still tired, but unable to fall back asleep. I am such a freak. ---
**Author:** ![strawberriesandcream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@strawberriesandcream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strawberriesandcream)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/59 "2001-04-08T01:59:27Z")
I absolutely LOVE sleep. It is the best thing in the world. However I know that I don’t get enough of it. I am a night person and if our society was different then maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. However our society is primarly based on the day. The large cities are getting better at changing that and if you ask me it’s the sooner the better!! “It is by no means certain that our individual personality is the single inhabitant of these our corporeal frames… We all do things both awake and asleep which surprise us. Perhaps we have cotenants in this house we live in.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Guardian Angel ---
**Author:** ![skaffen\_amiskaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@skaffen\_amiskaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaffen_amiskaw)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345/60 "2001-04-08T22:58:29Z")
i often sleep with a pillow across my face. i keep thinking i’ll suffocate, but i have to periodically risk death to combat insomnia. sleeping in the same bed as someone else is my favourite, though. just platonically. (spell? nah.) even in the same room is good. or just within earshot, so we can talk each other asleep is good too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-sleep/60345.md?page=2)