Why I Got Rid of My Bed — and How My Body Thanked Me
By: Luba Sigaud
Tags: Sleep, Lifestyle, Advice, Self, Sustainability

Now, maybe you’re skeptical. Maybe you think I’m crazy for giving up my bed in favor of a seemingly much less comfortable alternative. I understand that. But, if your interest is piqued, as mine was when I first heard about this, read on.

Photo by Christopher Jolly on Unsplash

The benefits of sleeping on the floor

A lot of people from a variety of backgrounds and ages have started sleeping on the floor and have never looked back because of the overwhelming benefits they have experienced doing it. In fact, in many cultures, sleeping on the floor is the norm.

But, I wanted to share my experience as someone who has spent the majority of her life sleeping on a typical mattress — someone who wasn’t used to sleeping on the floor or on a harder surface every night at all.

Now, keep in mind that I am a healthy, active twenty-something, so my experience may differ from that of others. Please be cautious when trying something new, and ask a medical professional if you have concerns about your health.

And, if you’re interested in a medical perspective, here are interviews of a chiropractor and a physical therapist and their thoughts on floor-sleeping.

With that said, let’s jump into the benefits I experienced first-hand:

Getting better sleep

I’ll be honest — typically, I used to sleep well in a normal bed. But when I transitioned to sleeping on a harder surface, I noticed the quality of my sleep really improved. I realized I could sleep fewer hours per night and still wake up refreshed and rested, instead of groggy.

That alone was eye-opening because when I slept in a typical bed and had to get up earlier than usual, I often felt exhausted later on in the day.

Being able to sleep in small spaces

When room is tight, being able to sleep without a bed is incredibly convenient. I know now that all I really need to be comfortable is a mat, a small pillow, and a blanket. That’s it. It’s a freeing feeling because it means that no matter where I spend the night, be it at a friend’s house, on a trip, or camping in a tent, I need very little to wake up rested and feeling amazing.

Not worrying about moving or buying beds

To me, this is one of my absolute favorite things about not sleeping in a typical bed: I don’t have to pay someone to move it or spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a new one. Having a “real” bed has become optional instead of mandatory. I love that.

Saving beds from landfills

It should come as no surprise that beds are really taxing on the planet. How? Because they’re so large that once they get old and worn out and no one wants them anymore, they end up getting thrown out. Think about it — there’s not much that can be done with an old bed. Sure, you might be able to recycle the frame, but the mattress itself is often unsalvageable. So, not sleeping on a traditional bed anymore helps reduce waste in a big way.

Photo by Andreea Popa on Unsplash

How to get started

The beauty of “floor sleeping” is that there are actually many ways to go about it. Some people sleep on yoga mats, thin memory foam mattresses, or Japanese-style futon mattresses.

Some decide they want the benefits of floor sleeping without having to sleep on the floor, so they build themselves a bed frame or keep their old frame and donate the mattress.

This is what I’ve been doing: I started on the floor and eventually set up a faux fur blanket on my old bed frame off the floor, and it has been working really well for me. Eventually, I think I’ll buy or build a larger bed frame and put a thin Japanese-style mattress on top, but for now, the setup I have now is perfect for my needs.

Remember — if you decide to get rid of your traditional, thick mattress, there are many options available to you. You’re completely free to experiment and see what works best for you, as I did.