NatNews

While some individuals are able to fall asleep easily just about anywhere in any way, others are more inclined to need to be in their complete comfort zones to do so—and that includes in their desired sleeping positions.

Whether you prefer to be on your side, back, stomach, sprawled all over the place, or some combination of all of those throughout the night, sleeping positions can have a wide range of effects on a person’s body, especially as people increase in years of life lived, so the sleep style for which one opts is generally a matter of comfort.

Dallas-area resident Madison Royal said she has historically slept on her left side with her knees bent. Depending on how her back feels, she will sometimes put a pillow between her knees.

“The only time I have been able to sleep another way is when I was pregnant,” she said. “I could sometimes sleep on my right side or on my back, but I’m mostly always on my left side.”

One study indicated that more than 60 percent of adults sleep on their sides, making it the most common position, while sleeping on one’s back is the next most popular option. Like Royal, Dallas resident Roberto Cowan generally sleeps on his left side, as that is what is most comfortable for him, but he also tends to find slumber while lying on his back.

“It’s just how I fall asleep sometimes when I’m watching TV,” he said.

Connecticut resident Emily Baldwin said she almost always starts sleeping on her side, as that’s what feels most natural to her, though she changes it up frequently and has no preferred side. However, she also indicated that her sleep position is not consistent on a nightly basis or even throughout one night.

“I’ll often sleep on my stomach if I can’t get comfortable,” she said.

There are some individuals, including Dallas-area resident Erin Jewell, who almost always sleep on their stomachs. She said she will occasionally go to sleep on her right side, but she prefers her stomach.

“Stomach sleeping is simply the fastest way for me to fall asleep,” Jewell said. “It’s comfortable—even if I start on my side, I’ll end up on my stomach. The worst part of being pregnant was that I couldn’t sleep on my stomach.”

According to Harvard Medical School, the side-sleeping style is beneficial for those who are pregnant, as it promotes blood flow and helps reduce swelling in the legs and ankles. Additionally, sleeping on one’s side can allow a person to breathe more easily and decrease heartburn but could also further aggravate joint pain. Sleeping on one’s back helps maintain spine straightness but can also worsen breathing issues (including sleep apnea) and increase heartburn.

While sleeping on the stomach can reduce snoring and sleep apnea, it can also create pain and discomfort, particular in one’s neck and back. Jewell, however, has found a way to help her avoid such issues.

“I only use one pillow, so it doesn’t strain my neck or hurt my back,” she said.

Baldwin, who is in her early 20s and still has youth on her side, said she assumes that sleeping on her stomach might not be the best option, but she is not too concerned with that right now.

“Honestly, as long as I’m sleeping, I don’t care what gets the job done,” she said.

When it comes to the “best” sleep position, it’s important to focus on promoting spinal alignment, from one’s head down to one’s hips. In both the side and back positions, it’s easier to keep a person’s spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure and enables the individual’s muscles to relax and recover.

There are additional health factors to consider, as well. Johns Hopkins Medicine noted that sleeping on a certain side, particularly for individuals who suffer from heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can worsen symptoms. Royal is aware of this and has experienced such effects in her own sleep life.

“I read once that sleeping on your right side can cause more G.I. issues and acid reflux because of how your stomach is positioned, and I noticed that I have trouble when I’m on my right side for too long,” she said.

Certain theories exist claiming that the way a person sleeps can often be indicative of certain personality traits of that individual. For instance, the notion has been posed that one who sleeps on his or her back with hands to the side is quiet and reserved, while a person who sleeps on his or her stomach tends to be sociable and often defensive, and someone who sleeps curled up in the fetal position is tough on the outside but sensitive at heart and seemingly shy but actually more relaxed and open than others might think. However, research conducted has not significantly supported such beliefs.

Baldwin said she thinks that there could be some ties to sleep styles and certain characteristics, though.

“I think if you sleep talk or sleep in weird positions, it can seem like you’re more laid-back or weird/funny,” she said. “Imagining someone sleeping perfectly propped up and on their back the whole night makes me think that they’re uptight or a perfectionist—almost creepy in a way.”

Jewell said she does not believe that the position in which one sleeps truly says anything about that person and his or her personality. For Jewell, it’s simply more about comfort and being able to sleep well through the night.

“Whatever works for you is best,” she said.

Similar to Jewell, Royal said she thinks that whether there is validity in how a person sleeps and certain aspects of his or her personality is not as important as simply being comfortable in the sleep style that helps him or her get enough essential rest throughout the night.

“When it comes to sleeping, I say to each their own,” she said. “I do think that people who sleep harder are sometimes stomach sleepers, but I definitely think whatever works for you is vital.”

While humans have approximately three octaves, foxes have five and are able to produce anywhere from 28 to 40 different vocalizations.

Prior to hosting the World Cup this summer, the metroplex (and this time, the actual city of Dallas, not Arlington) is serving as a temporary home to another exciting attraction: inflatable art.

Debuting in Rome in 2021, the Balloon Museum has become a global phenomenon and welcomed more than 7 million visitors to its various locations. The format of the museum was created by a curatorial team that designs and realizes contemporary art exhibitions with specific works that feature air as the distinctive element.

The Balloon Museum produces four different interactive exhibitions—Pop Air, Let’s Fly, EmotionAir, and Euphoria—in what it calls an “unconventional approach” to culture to help establish inflatable art as a world-renowned pop movement.

The Dallas Balloon Museum exhibit is Let’s Fly, which originally debuted in the U.S. in 2023 and “explores air not only as a physical element but as a symbol of movement and limitless travel—both within ourselves and beyond.” This temporary Dallas attraction, located at South Side Studios (2901 Botham Jean Blvd.), opened its doors on November 22, 2025, and will remain open until April 26 of this year.

Dallas resident Erasmo Estrada, a project manager at a global real estate development company, played a role in helping bring the Balloon Museum to the city. He said he is connected to South Side Studios, which primarily serves as a film studio, through work and was involved in previous significant renovations at the property.

“There was an opportunity to have this interactive art museum in the space for six months, but the design of the building was such that it did not support large groups of people, per code, so we worked with several teams to find a solution to make modifications to the existing space to become compliant for supporting many more people,” he said. “This involved fire alarm upgrades, egress changes, lighting changes, creating new pathways in the building, new entrances, and working closely with the City of Dallas to find a path to allow this group to come in for the temporary time period before the space returns to its previous use.”

Estrada and his team faced a few challenges, not only because of the strong desire to have the Balloon Museum temporarily fill this space while still needing to meet compliance requirements but also because of the quick turnaround time to get everything completed.

“They wanted them there in November,” he said. “It was August, so it was ‘figure it all out—and fast’ kind of project.”

With more than 65,000 square feet of sensory experiences for visitors, the museum offers 18 exhibits that immerse individuals in several ways, including through giant inflatables, virtual reality headsets, strobe lights, mirrors, LED screens, and more. Though it is not a permanent fixture, the Balloon Museum offers the opportunity to benefit Dallas in multiple ways, including further acknowledging its status as a well-known and sought-after location.

“It’s nice to have more amenities in the city, and this group has had exhibits around other major cities in the world, so it’s great that Dallas, being a big city, gets to enjoy that, too,” Estrada said.

While Estrada, who has been training for and completed the Houston Marathon yesterday, has not yet been able to visit the Dallas Balloon Museum, he said he certainly intends to do so soon. He believes that it is a place that all individuals can enjoy, regardless of their typical interests.

“If you’re not a museum lover, maybe you’ll find more enjoyment in that it’s not a typical museum,” he said. “It’s fun, different, and interesting, and it provides an experience to visitors, friends, and families.”

For information regarding hours and ticket prices as well as answers to additional questions, you can visit the Dallas Balloon Museum’s FAQ page.

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Happy 200th edition of NatNews, dear readers  

Monday, January 12: Mavs vs. Nets at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, January 13: Once Upon a Punchline at Mic Drop Comedy Plano; Free Rooftop Movie — Sinners at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, January 14: Mavs vs. Nuggets at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, January 15: Brolaroid 2 at Scout Design Studio; Mavs vs. Jazz at the American Airlines Center
Friday, January 16: Candlelight — Tribute to the Beatles at Cathedral of Hope
Saturday, January 17: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; PUNK26 at Double Wide; Bresh at SILO Dallas; 80s in Aspen at Happiest Hour; Mavs vs. Jazz at the American Airlines Center; Shania Twain Tribute — Shania Twang at Legacy Hall
Sunday, January 18: Stars vs. Lightning at the American Airlines Center; Cycling Group Ride at Community Beer Co.; Lara Beitz at Dallas Comedy Club