Building A Pillow Fort Can Actually Help You Sleep Better (Swear!)

"I'm a grown adult, and I love my pillow fort," he says on the mindbodygreen podcast.

OK, technically, Wine's fort may look a little subtler than the grand castles of your childhood. It's more like he cocoons himself into bed each night: "I have super heavy pillows that wedge me in on both sides [of my bed], one under my knees, and then lighter, softer pillows under my head," he says. 

That said, you can achieve spinal alignment sleeping on your side—you just may need an adequately supportive pillow that can adjust to the shape of your head, neck, and shoulder. In addition to a pillow under your head, experts recommend placing one between your knees to ensure your lower spine isn't twisted and one next to you to rest your top arm on—so your shoulders aren't twisting or crouching in a way that could leave you with a neck kink. Regardless, you might not want to sleep on your stomach if you can help it, as your head is likely cranked to one side, which puts stress on the ligaments of the neck. 

Whether you're partial to the fetal position or lying on your back, your pillows can play a significant role in spinal alignment—which will not only make you feel better during the day (i.e., less sore and creaky) but help you achieve more restful sleep at night. Sure, it's not exactly like the pillow fort you might have built as a kid—but doesn't it make the sleep tip sound a bit more fun?