11/26/2025
How Your Pillow Affects Your Morning
Waking up with neck pain or a stiff back? Your pillow might be working against you. During sleep, your spine needs proper support to maintain its natural curves. The wrong pillow height or firmness can force your neck into awkward positions for 7-8 hours straight, creating tension that carries into your day.
Side sleepers need a thicker pillow to fill the space between the mattress and head, keeping the neck level with the spine. Back sleepers do better with a thinner pillow that doesn’t push the head too far forward. Stomach sleeping (though not ideal) requires the flattest pillow possible—or none at all—to avoid excessive neck rotation.
Your pillow should support the curve of your neck without tilting your head up or down. If you wake up needing to “crack” your neck or feeling unrested, it might be time to reassess your sleep setup. A good pillow paired with proper spinal alignment can dramatically improve sleep quality and how you feel in the morning.