Updated at: 30-07-2022 - By: Jane

Many people question if their favored sleeping position reflects aspects of their personality. 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 varies greatly, and researchers have thus far been unable to clearly explain the link.

You may still find it intriguing and instructive to think about your preferred sleeping positions, despite the dearth of thorough studies. Individuals typically adopt various sleeping postures to assist alleviate unpleasant symptoms, which makes studying how people sleep a valuable source of information about your health and well-being.

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

img_62e10416288a7.png

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

img_62e10417293cc.png

If you’re curious in how a person’s sleep habits might reveal a lot about their character, keep reading.

Here are the eight most prevalent positions for sleeping and what they say about the person who is using them.

03/10Sleep Position 1: The fetal position

img_62e10419b0493.png

One of the most common sleeping positions is “curling up like a baby,” which is another name for this position. Sleeping sideways with your legs curled up like a newborn might be a sign of contentment and safety in your life.

This sleeping position merely symbolizes the need for the sleeper to be protected from the outside world and to feel safe. Fetus-like sleeping positions may indicate that you’re an emotionally sensitive person who attempts to appear tougher on the outside, although this isn’t always the case.

04/10​Sleep Position 2: The stomach sleeper

img_62e1041b49eb4.png

Those who prefer to sleep on their stomachs should know that this is the least popular position. Aside from increasing the risk of neck injuries, sleeping face down during pregnancy can be hazardous to the unborn child.

If you prefer to sleep on your stomach, you may be a kind and outgoing individual. When it comes to your personality, it’s possible you’ll come across a touch brash at times. Because you’re so self-conscious, you hate it when people point out your flaws.

05/10​Sleep Position 3: The log sleeper

img_62e1041cec0f8.png

You’ll sleep like a log if you lay on your side with your arms by your side. If you can identify yourself in this sleeping position, you are a kind and trustworthy person. You have a good chance of becoming the undisputed leader of your group.

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

img_62e1041e7eceb.png

What is a soldier’s ideal posture? With his/her arms crossed, it may very well be standing at attention. Your strict, reserved and thorough personality is likely reflected in your sleep habits. This type of military stance sleep also indicates that you take your life extremely seriously and expect a lot from yourself.

07/10Sleep Position 5: You hug a pillow

img_62e1041fab5de.png

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?

img_62e104214d2c4.png

This is a position in which you sleep with your arms spread out, as if you were trying to grab something from the floor or ceiling. Sleeping in this position may indicate that you are open to others, but it may also mean that you have a hard time trusting them. In addition, you may be a little wary of others and take your time making up your mind.

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

img_62e104223f749.png

When it comes to sleeping on their sides, many people have a preferred side. Sleeping on your side or back is a sign of a laid-back personality who embraces everyone with open arms.

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

img_62e10423310b1.png

Congratulations! Rejuvenated and ready to go for the day are more likely when you sleep on your back. It’s possible that sleeping on your back is an indication that you’ve got a lot of lofty goals for yourself and others.

Side Sleep Positions

Side, back, and stomach sleep postures are used equally by children. They spend more time sleeping on their sides as they get older. More than 60 percent of adults spend the majority of their night sleeping on their side, according to recent studies. Side sleeping is more common in people who are older or have a higher BMI. A reliable source Information on biotechnology from the National Library of Medicine Access to biomedical and genomic information is provided through the National Center for Biotechnology Information, which is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The side sleeping position can be taken in a variety of ways. Researchers have long hypothesized that a person’s preferred side sleeping position is related to their personality type. These assertions should be treated with caution 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. Adults tend to sleep in this position.

Samuel Dunkell, a sleep researcher in the 1970s, was the first to postulate that the fetal position correlated with specific personality traits. Fetal position sleepers tend to be more anxious and emotional, according to Dunkell’s studies. 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.

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

What Your Sleep Position Says About Your Personality | Reader's Digest

Log

The log posture, while similar to the fetal position on the side, is substantially different from it. It is common for people to sleep in a log position, with both arms and legs outstretched. Surveys indicate that the log is a popular sleeping position, while other study reveals that a real log side sleeping position is rare. Some sleepers stretch both legs when laying on their sides, although the majority of people maintain at least one arm curled.

Scientist Idzikowski argues that sleeping in the log position indicates that a person is outgoing and enjoys socializing with others. This openness and eagerness to trust could make people gullible, he warns, despite their attractiveness.

Yearner

In the yearner position, a sleeper appears to be longing for something. It looks like the log posture, with their legs and arms outstretched. The only difference is that instead of extending from their sides, their arms are positioned in the middle.

People who prefer the yearner position are more open than those who prefer the log position, according to Idzikowski’s research. Cynicism and suspicion are common attitudes among students. As a result, these evaluations should be treated with caution. The findings of this study have not yet been peer-reviewed or duplicated.

Side Sleeping and Health

Aside from the fact that it can reduce snoring, side sleeping may also help alleviate back and neck pain in those with obstructive sleep apnea. Gestapoesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms can be reduced by sleeping on your left side, especially in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. People with heart failure should try to sleep on their right side, rather than on their left.

In order to maintain the head aligned with the rest of the spine, side sleepers typically need thicker pillows than back and stomach sleepers. This type of mattress is best for side sleepers because it provides support for the heavier regions of the body without generating pressure on the hips and shoulders. If you have shoulder pain, you may want to avoid sleeping on the side of your body where you are experiencing discomfort.

Back Sleep Positions

After side sleeping, the back sleeping posture is the second most prevalent. Approximately one-third of a person’s sleep time is spent on their back, according to a recent study. Researchers in the 1970s, such as Dr. Dunkell, asserted that sleeping on one’s back increases one’s sense of self-worth. Back sleepers, according to Dunkell, are more likely to be open and sensation-seeking than those who sleep on their sides or stomachs.

You can sleep on your back in a variety of positions. Idzikowski, a sleep scientist, has focused his attention on two specific positions. This is a soldier, and this is a starfish, respectively.

Soldier

While lying in the soldier position, you must maintain an upright posture like a soldier does. The legs are not bowed, and your arms are straight along your body’s sides.. It is claimed by Idzikowski that soldier sleepers are quiet and reticent, but they also have high standards.

Starfish

In order to sleep like a starfish, you must be laying on your back with your arms and legs splayed out in front of you. According to Idzikowski, people who sleep like starfish appreciate friendship and are good listeners and eager to help others, even if they prefer not to be the center of attention.

Back Sleeping and Health

People with back pain may find that resting on their back alleviates pressure points. Back sleeping may also help avoid wrinkles because your face isn’t frequently squished against the pillow. The symptoms of acid reflux are lessened when people sleep on their backs with the head of the bed elevated, even if laying flat can promote back sleeping.

If you prefer sleeping on your back, try to do so symmetrically to avoid back pain. When one arm is raised while the other is lowered, it can put undue tension on the neck and shoulders. The best mattresses for back sleeping provide adequate lumbar support, so your lower back doesn’t arch unnaturally as you sleep. To keep your neck in proper alignment with your spine, you’ll want to pick a supportive pillow.

Stomach Sleep Positions

You can avoid back pain by sleeping symmetrically on your back. When one arm is raised and the other is lowered, your neck and shoulders are put under additional stress. Lumbar support is a key feature of the best mattresses for back sleepers since it prevents your lower back from arching abnormally as you sleep. Choosing a pillow that supports your neck and keeps it in line with your spine is also important.

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.

Results from a study in 2012 did not support these findings. For Idzikowski, a sleep researcher, stomach sleepers, particularly those who adopt the “freefall” position, have a different perspective.

8 Sleeping Positions and What They Say About Your Personality

Freefall

A 2012 study’s findings did not support these assertions. It’s not just stomach sleepers who have a different perspective according to sleep scientist Idzikowski.

Stomach Sleeping and Health

Sleepers who prefer to sleep on their stomachs may find that breathing becomes more difficult. Back and neck pain can be alleviated if you switch to sleeping on your back or side, or if you change your bed configuration.

A firmer mattress and a pillow with a low loft are recommended for stomach sleepers. Spinal misalignment and stiffness might come from a mattress that is too soft or a pillow that is too high or low.

FAQs

When it comes to sleeping postures, there is no one-size-fits-all because everyone’s bedtime demands are different. If you suffer from sleep apnea, sleeping on your side may be the best option for you. Slumbering on your back may be your best bet if you’re worried about aging prematurely.

When you sleep on your left side, your liver isn’t under as much pressure, allowing blood to flow more freely. 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 help to keep the spine straight and are ideal for relieving back discomfort.

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

For the most part, sleep experts recommend sleeping on your back or on your side, depending on your own 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. If you have a bad mattress or a misaligned spine, sleeping on the floor may be your best hope for restoring your spine’s natural alignment.

Your spine should be in a neutral position when you sleep, which will help to enhance your posture. As long as you’ve got the right kind of mattress and pillow, you’ll be able to get out of bed in the morning feeling rested and without any aches or pains.

In order to prevent back pain, you should sleep in a position that keeps your spine neutral and unstrained. There is no need to worry about this if you have a good mattress that conforms to your spine. In the absence of memory foam, utilize extra blankets and pillows to keep your spine supported as you sleep. You won’t have to deal with back ache the next day if you do this.

What Your Sleeping Position Reveals About Your Personality

You can, in fact, sleep on your stomach. One of the best postures to sleep in is here. Your back should be fine as long as it is supported in a way that maintains the natural curve of your spine.

Your left side is unquestionably the most comfortable position in which to rest your body. This position can impede blood flow and put strain on your liver, so it’s best to avoid it. Additionally, sleeping on your right side might exacerbate heartburn symptoms and put additional strain on your internal organs.

Vote for this post!

Rate this post