What Your Sleeping Position Says About You? Helpful Information Update 11/2024

A lot of individuals have wondered if their favored sleeping position indicates a lot about their character. There is very little scientific research on sleep postures and personality traits, and recent studies have found a shaky link1 between them. Some research has linked sleep position and personality, however the methods used to measure sleep postures varied greatly, and researchers have thus far been unable to explain the connection.

Examining your preferred sleeping positions can be interesting and informative even if there isn’t much solid research on the subject. You can learn a lot about your health and sleep by studying your sleeping position, as people commonly adopt particular positions to alleviate discomfort.

What Does Your Sleeping Position Say About You?

Side, back, and stomach sleeping are the three most common positions studied by scientists, and each one is further subdivided into a variety of positions.

01/10Your sleeping position says A LOT about your personality

As the saying goes, you can learn a lot about someone’s character by watching them sleep. What many people don’t realize is that their preferred sleeping position can disclose a lot about their inner-self and even their health.

02/108 most common sleeping positions


If you’d like to learn more about how a person’s sleeping habits can reveal a great deal about their personality, keep reading.

Here are the eight most prevalent sleeping positions, and what each tells us about the person who sleeps in them.

03/10Sleep Position 1: The fetal position


This position, sometimes known as “curling up like a baby,” is one of the most common ways to fall asleep. Sleeping sideways with your legs curled up like a newborn might be a sign of contentment and safety in your life.

When a person is in this position, they want to feel safe from the outside world. The fetal position may indicate that you’re a naïve, sensitive person who tries to appear tougher than you actually are.

04/10​Sleep Position 2: The stomach sleeper


Those who prefer to sleep on their stomachs should know that this is the least popular position. Pregnant women and those who sleep face down are also at risk of neck injuries.

A person who sleeps on his or her stomach is likely to be a social butterfly and a kind individual. When it comes to your personality, it’s possible you’ll come across a touch brash at times. As a result of your insecurities, you are apprehensive of being chastised.

05/10​Sleep Position 3: The log sleeper

You sleep like a log if you sleep on your side with your arms outstretched. Someone who is nice and trustworthy is someone who recognizes themselves in this sleeping position. Even though you’re a popular member of your group, you may not be the Queen Bee.

06/10Sleep Position 4: ​Just like a soldier

As a soldier, what kind of posture do you envision? It’s possible that he or she is saluting and keeping his or her hands to the sides. You are probably a rigorous, restrained, and thorough person if you sleep like a soldier. It also suggests that you take life seriously and expect a lot of yourself if you have a military stance sleep type.

07/10Sleep Position 5: You hug a pillow

An upbeat, relationship-oriented personality is more likely to require a pillow to help you drift off to sleep than a pessimistic one. You’re a selfless person who enjoys going the extra mile for those you care about.

08/10Sleep Position 6: ​​‘Yearning’ for something?

With your arms outstretched in this stance, you’ll appear to be reaching for something. Sleeping on your side is a regular occurrence, and it may indicate that while you are open to others, you also take a long time to trust them. When it comes to other people, you can be a little wary and take your time to form an opinion about them.

09/10Sleep Position 7: ​The side-sleeper


When it comes to sleeping on their sides, many people have a preferred side. If you prefer to sleep on your side, it indicates that you are a laid-back person who enjoys spending time with others.

According to the Sealy poll, persons who prefer to sleep on their left side are more likely to be creative, whereas those who prefer to sleep on their right side are more likely to be alcoholics and smokers.

10/10Sleep Position 8: You sleep on your back

Congratulations! As a rule, those who sleep on their backs report feeling more rested and ready to tackle the day. Having a habit of sleeping on your back may be an indication that you have high expectations for yourself and others, as well.

Side Sleep Positions

Side, back, and stomach sleep positions are equally popular with children. They spend more time sleeping on their sides as they get older. More than 60% of adults report sleeping primarily on their sides, however exact figures are hard to come by. Those who are older and have a greater BMI are more likely to sleep on their side. a Reliable Resource Information on biotechnology from the National Library of Medicine Providing open access to biomedical and genetic data, the National Center for Biotechnology Information is helping to enhance science and health care.

The position of sleeping on one’s side can be adapted in a variety of ways. For some time now, scientists have hypothesized that different sleeping postures correspond to distinct personality traits. These assertions should be taken with a grain of salt because there is no recent peer-reviewed research to back them up.

Fetal

A baby in the womb is what gives this posture its name, hence it’s called the “fetal position.” With their legs and arms bowed and their body curled into a ball, sleepers in the fetal position are resting on one side of their bodies. Adult sleepers frequently take this position.

As early as the 1970s, sleep researcher Samuel Dunkell proposed that some personality traits could be linked to an infant’s sleeping position. Dunkell found that people who sleep in the fetal position have higher levels of anxiety and emotion. The semi-fetal position’s supporters, he described as well-adjusted, were in contrast to this. It was not until the years 2002 and 2012 that academics were able to come to the same conclusions as Domino and Bohn did in 1980.
What does your sleeping position say about you - Times of India

Chris Idzikowsk, a contemporary sleep researcher, says his research shows that fetal position sleepers can be shy around new people, but relax pretty fast when they meet someone new. Since this research hasn’t been peer-reviewed, it shouldn’t be considered the final word.

Log

The log is a side sleeping position, however it differs greatly from the fetal position in terms of comfort. A person in slumber is said to be in a “log position” when their arms and legs are both extended straight out in front of them. Many people sleep on their side, according to surveys, but a real log-side sleeping position is rare. According to the findings of this study, many people sleep on their sides with their legs extended but with at least one arm curled.

Individuals who sleep on their backs tend to be more social, according to sleep researcher Idzikowski. However, he adds that their openness and eagerness to trust could lead people to be naive and narcissistic.

Yearner

They appear to be grasping or seeking for something in this pose. They’re in the log position with their legs and arms both outstretched. Instead of being at their sides, their arms are stretched out in front of them.

People who prefer the yearner position are more open than those who prefer the log position, according to Idzikowski’s research. It’s also possible for students to be skeptical and cynical. However, these evaluations should not be taken too seriously. Until yet, no other researchers have duplicated this study.

Side Sleeping and Health

People with and without obstructive sleep apnea have less snoring when they sleep on their sides, and it may help alleviate their back and neck pain. In the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, it is recommended that pregnant women sleep on their left side to reduce symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). People with heart failure prefer to sleep on their right side.

In order to maintain the head aligned with the rest of the spine, side sleepers typically need thicker pillows than back and stomach sleepers. Side sleepers can benefit from a medium to medium-firm mattress, which can support heavy sections of their bodies without putting strain on their hips and shoulders. Avoid sleeping on the side of your body that hurts your shoulders if you have them.

Back Sleep Positions

Sleeping on one’s back is the second most common posture, behind only lying on one’s side. Approximately one-third of the time spent sleeping is spent on one’s back. According to sleep researcher Dunkell, persons who sleep on their backs are more confident than those who sleep on their stomachs. Back sleepers, according to Dunkell, are more likely to be open and sensation-seeking than those who sleep on their sides or stomachs.

On your back, there are a number of different positions you can take. Idzikowski, a sleep scientist, has focused his attention on two specific positions. The soldier and the starfish can be seen here.

Soldier

There’s no room for error while you’re in the “Soldier Position.” There is no bending of the knees or the elbows, and your arms are straight out to the sides. It is claimed by Idzikowski that soldier sleepers are not only quiet and restrained, but they also have high expectations.

Starfish

On your back, with your arms and legs splayed, you sleep like a starfish. According to Idzikowski, starfish sleepers are good listeners and ready to help others, even though they prefer to avoid the limelight.

How to choose the best sleeping position, and why it matters | The Seattle Times

Back Sleeping and Health

Some people find that resting on their backs relieves pressure points, depending on the type of discomfort they are experiencing. Back sleeping may also help avoid wrinkles because your face isn’t frequently squished against the pillow. Even though resting flat on one’s back can cause acid reflux, sleeping on one’s back with the head of the bed elevated reduces symptoms.

To avoid back pain while sleeping on your back, attempt to sleep symmetrically. Maintaining a symmetrical posture by keeping one arm elevated and the other at a lower angle might put strain on your neck and shoulders. When you sleep on your back, your lower back should not arch abnormally. The best mattresses for back sleepers give appropriate lumbar support to prevent this. Choosing a pillow that supports your neck and keeps it in line with your spine is also important.

Stomach Sleep Positions

The most unpopular position for sleeping is on one’s stomach, and by the time one reaches maturity, the number of persons doing so has decreased significantly. Lack of flexibility may be to blame for this shift in sleep position preferences. Sleeping on your stomach can cause back and neck pain when you wake up because of the strain it puts on the spine.

According to sleep expert Dunkell, stomach sleepers are more prone to anxiety, impulsivity, compulsiveness, and rigidity, all of which are advantageous in the financial services industry. Additionally, studies from the 1980s and 2002 indicated that people who sleep on their stomachs are more likely to experience anxiety and have worse levels of self-esteem.

The findings of a study conducted in 2012 were not in agreement with this hypothesis. For Idzikowski, a sleep researcher, stomach sleepers, particularly those who adopt the “freefall” position, have a different perspective.

Freefall

When a stomach sleeper is in a freefall posture, they have their hands on or around the pillow, and their head is turned to one side. According to Idzikowski, freefall sleepers are gregarious and can be a little rough around the edges. Their true nature is to be hypersensitive and easily rattled by criticism or harsh circumstances.

Stomach Sleeping and Health

Lieing on one’s stomach puts additional tension on the back and neck, and it can also make it more difficult to breathe. Back and neck pain can be alleviated if you switch to sleeping on your back or side, or if you change the position of your mattress.

Those who sleep on their stomachs need a firm mattress and a low-loft pillow. A pillow that is excessively lofty or hard can put strain on the neck and cause stiffness, as can a mattress that is too soft.

FAQs

Sleeping postures aren’t one-size-fits all because everyone’s needs are different at night. On your side may be better if you suffer from sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back may be the greatest option if you’re worried about aging prematurely.

For those who are concerned about their liver and blood flow, sleeping on their left side is a better option than others. Your baby will benefit from better circulation if you sleep on your left side when pregnant, and your liver will be less likely to press down on your uterus.

The greatest places to sleep are on your back or your side. Both positions keep the spine in a neutral position, making them ideal for relieving back discomfort.

If your pillows are old or of poor quality, you can get away with sleeping without one. Our neck and upper back muscles have to work harder when pillows don’t give adequate support. It’s better to sleep with your head on the mattress rather than a pillow.

In general, sleep experts appear to agree that the ideal positions to sleep in either on your back or your side, however this depends on your personal preferences.

Because your neck and back are supported in a neutral posture when you sleep on your back, it is one of the healthiest positions to sleep in.

It really is a case-by-by situation. There is nothing wrong with using a high-quality mattress that fully supports your spine. In some cases, sleeping on the floor might help realign your spine if you have a bad mattress or a misaligned spine.

Your spine should be in a neutral position during the night as a result of a good night’s sleep. With a supportive mattress and an appropriate pillow, you should wake up refreshed and pain-free, making it simpler to maintain a healthy posture during the rest of your waking hours.

Any position that maintains your spine supported and in a neutral, unstrained position is the greatest way to sleep for your back. There is no need to worry about this if you have a good mattress that conforms to your spine. Use extra blankets and pillows if your mattress lacks the memory foam qualities you need. This will assist alleviate any back ache you might have the following day.

What is the Best Sleeping Position? | by Isabella Swartz | Show Some STEMpathy | Medium

You can, in fact, sleep on your stomach. You can sleep better in this position than any other. Again, you should have no problems on your side as long as your body is supported in a way that respects the natural curve of your spine.

By far, the most comfortable position for sleeping is on your left side. When you sleep on your right side, you exert pressure on your liver and impede blood flow. Sleeping on your right side might exacerbate heartburn symptoms and place additional stress on your inside organs.

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