It's official: Right is wrong when it comes to which side to get out of bed

I found this great article from Premier Inn when booking a hotel recently …

Anyone who has gotten up in a less than positive frame of mind in the morning may well have been asked, "What’s up with you this morning? Get out of the wrong side of bed?" But what is ‘the wrong side’? Premier Inn boffins have settled the answer to that age-old question once and for all. When it comes to getting out of bed, RIGHT IS WRONG and we should all be aiming to get up on the LEFT.

The conclusion was made following hot debate by experts from the fields of sleep science, Feng Shui and psychology. Dr Chris Alford, Jan Cisek and Pete Cohen studied the phenomenon and applied principles from their various fields to help Premier Inn’s team determine that the left side is in fact the right [correct] side. Premier Inn commissioned the study as an extension of their unique ‘Good Night Guarantee’,

How the conclusion was made: Principles of Feng Shui and elements of known left-brain function helped to establish the conclusion. According to the Feng Shui principle of Bagua; creating harmony through the use of space, the left side of the bed is associated with what we hold dear – family and health, money and power (knowledge). By getting out of bed on the left side, you direct positive energy into the corresponding areas of your life. It is a powerful tool that can also be used to help you arrange your bed when you’re staying away from home. The study further determined that getting out of bed on the correct side goes beyond just the physical action of getting out on the left side. It also includes the use of the left side of the brain to prepare the mind for having the best possible day. The left side of the brain is responsible for logical and analytical function, which is this side we use to think rationally about the day ahead:

Before getting out of bed on the left, consider the day and its benefits. The right side of the brain is responsible for emotions like fear and stress, which only dilute your potential for having a positive experience”.

Ensuring you don’t ‘get out the wrong side’:

Getting out of bed on the correct side (the LEFT):
1. Lie in your bed on your back
2. Think rationally about the benefits the day will bring
3. Get out of bed on the side to your left

What to do if you have ‘got out of the wrong side of bed’:
1. Begin your day again… If it is still early or you are at home: go back to bed and release the previously bad start. Lie on your back, think rationally about the benefits of the day before getting out of bed from the left side

2. Stop, relax and regain control… By taking a power nap or meditating for a period of twenty minutes you can rid your brain of the build up of sleep chemicals which can contribute to irritability and lethargy

3. Change your psychology with physiology… Go for a jog or do a yoga class at lunchtime (in our case go dancing) - exercise reduces tension and releases endorphins that promote a happy state of mind

Practice this over the weekend and you should avoid the Monday blues! I always get out of bed on the left side which could explain why I am such a morning person!