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You’ve Been Wearing Your Travel Pillow Wrong This Whole Time

A man holding up a travel neck pillow, places it on his neck with the open side in the back, and then sleeping.
@Sidneyraz/TikTok

Even if you only go on a trip every few years, it turns out that even the most seasoned of globe-trotters might have been wearing their travel pillows wrong this whole time.

TikTok content creator, @Sidneyraz, has an entire account dedicated to things he wishes he’d known before turning 30, and his thoughts about travel pillows have gone viral. He points out that most people wear their travel neck pillows incorrectly, placing the open end of the C-shaped brace at the front of their neck instead of the back.

World's Best Feather Soft Microfiber Neck Pillow

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In the video, he places the pillow with the open side behind his neck, then slouches his head forward so it rests on the thicker section of the pillow. While he doesn’t explain why this is the correct method, it’s pretty simple.

When you fall asleep in a car or on a plane, your neck naturally falls to one side or forward. If the pillow’s opening is in the front, it’s not really doing you any favors. Your head will just fall forward and strain your neck, which is the opposite of where you want it.

@sidneyraz

you can actually sleep on a flight #traveltipsandtricks #inmy30s

♬ original sound - sidneyraz

Have you been wearing your travel pillow this way? If so, you apparently aren’t alone, as this video now has over 3 million likes. Test the theory at home in a chair to see if it really helps you before taking off on your next flight.

Inflatable Travel Pillow for Airplane

Trust us, this will help you get amazing sleep on planes.

If a traditional neck pillow still isn’t doing it for you, there are many other styles of travel pillows that you can try. One option is this inflatable travel pillow. It does look kind of silly, but if you typically sleep on your stomach, this is an excellent pillow that will allow you to fall asleep on a plane and wake up without neck pain.

trtl Travel Pillow

This is also more portable than most travel pillows.

Another great option to try is the Trtl Pillow. This special style has a brace that cradles your neck and doesn’t allow your head to fall forward or to the side. Peruse the thousands of reviews, and you’ll see many folks praising this pillow for finally making it possible for them to sleep on a plane.

It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely worth a try if you need to get some sleep on your next flight, and the standard pillows have never worked for you.

Even if you wear your neck pillow correctly, getting some sleep on a plane can be tough, but these tips might help you catch some Z’s.

Shea Simmons Shea Simmons
Shea Simmons is the Editor In Chief of LifeSavvy. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer with a focus on beauty and lifestyle content. Her work has appeared in Bustle, Allure, and Hello Giggles. Read Full Bio »
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