A Firmer Foundation

What I Did When My Back Went Out Of Whack

When I downsized from a two-bedroom house to a studio apartment last summer, I traded my king-size adjustable bed for a full-size mattress on a simple metal frame.

It fit the space perfectly. Clean. Compact. Practical.

At first, I loved it. It looked clean and intentional, and gave me extra room for storage. Which is always a win in a studio apartment. It felt efficient without feeling cramped. More than that, it seemed like the kind of streamlined, practical decision responsible adults make when they’re fully committing to smaller living instead of resisting it.

A few months later, my back protested and staged a rebellion.

I started waking up stiff and sore. Not sharp, dramatic pain. Just a steady, dull ache that followed me into the kitchen each morning, making my day feel slightly off before it even began.

It wasn’t debilitating, but it was persistent enough to get my attention.

Last Friday night, while wandering through YouTube, I stumbled across a couple of videos suggesting something surprisingly simple: put the mattress directly on the ground. It’s common practice in Japan, where futons are traditionally laid on tatami mats, offering firm, consistent support.

So why wouldn’t I give it another try? I actually used to sleep this way for years—until I turned 40 and decided I “needed” a proper bed frame. Looking back, that’s about the same time my insomnia noticeably worsened. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.

When my back is out of whack, I’m more than willing to experiment. So I pulled the mattress off the frame and placed it directly on the ground.

After just one night, the difference was noticeable enough that I moved the frame to the garage. I slept more deeply. I tossed and turned less. And I woke up without that familiar, nagging pain in my lower back.

Within a few days, the improvement was undeniable.

Now, is it harder to get out of bed? Absolutely. Getting up, especially in the middle of the night, requires a lot of rocking, rolling, and defying gravity. I’m sure it looks just as ridiculous as it feels. Almost every time I have to get up, I end up laughing at myself.

But waking up pain-free changes everything. My mood is better. My focus is sharper. My mornings feel lighter. Starting the day without arguing with my back is worth a little awkward choreography in the dark.

Sometimes the solution isn’t adding something new.
Sometimes it’s as simple as lowering the bed.

Keep calm and get your rest on!

Clint 🌈✌️

P.S. I’m heading out this morning to look for a basic box spring, just to lift the mattress off the ground. Modern mattresses are designed to function without one, but I’m not interested in bulky adjustable frames or platform beds. The tried-and-true box spring has worked for me before. I have a feeling it will work for me again.

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ends 02.28.26

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BORN THIS WAY ON THIS DAY

• 02-25 = Martin Kippenberger (1953-1997) = German artist 🌈

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MAN CRUSH(ES) OF THE DAY

GEORGE HARRISON

“If we’d know we were going to be the Beatles, we’d have tried harder.”
George Harrison

MARTIN KIPPENBERGER

“I’m not interested in provoking people, but only in trying to be consoling.”
Martin Kippenberger