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Our sleeping positions are one of the hilarious things we usually start laughing about. Sleeping simply does not mean lying straight on the bed with your back, but other unique positions that are truly fun to reveal.
But, ever wondered what your sleeping position1 says about you? Well, that’s true. Your body language can reveal a lot about your personality, not only when you are in society, but also while sleeping.
You must have observed that sleeping in the same positions for hours may numb for arms, trigger neck injuries and hurt your hip. Knowingly, certain sleep positions indicate your well-being or health problems in your daily routine. But, does your sleep position affects you anyway? What does your sleeping position say about you?
Well answering this, is today’s guide, where we will be exploring such answers with our top-notch health experts.
Is there a link between Sleep positions & Personality?
We probably never think about our sleeping positions when it comes to taking a comfortable nap. But ever wondered, What does your sleeping position say about you? Some psychologists and experts have suggested that your sleep position can be a great contributor to exhibiting your personality traits.
A survey conducted by the Better Sleep Council (BSC2) showcased the following few highlights, that represented some statements about sleep positions.
- People who sleep in a log position, are observed to be healthier and more active as compared to other sleepers.
- A very strange prediction says that people owning a graduate degree or higher sleep more likely in the fetal position.
- Some baby boomers sleep on one side with arms outstretched.
10 Most Common Sleeping Positions we Try Regularly
Let’s face it. Healthy sleep is the need of the day. However, a sleeping position is more to add quality to your sleep. Different sleeping positions have different advantages, nevertheless, they add significance to your personality traits too. So, the question arises what your sleeping position say about you? Before knowing, what your sleeping position says about you, the following are some of the most common sleep positions you might fall asleep.
Fetal position
As sounds, the fetal position looks like curling your body like a fetus in a mother’s womb. This is the most popular position as it is not the only best position for pregnant women, but also to ignore snoring while sleeping. Fetal position improves the lower back pain, which helps in falling asleep comfortably.
What does your sleeping position say about you?
This position can be linked to sensitivity and gentleness. As the position denotes comfiness, relaxation is like a baby position.
Stomach sleeping
Sleeping on your stomach is generally a non-recommended body posture while sleeping. This position majorly targets neck pain, back pain, and body stiffness in the morning. In this posture, the person’s sleep head turned with the support of their stomach. What does your sleeping position say about you? For pregnant women, stomach sleeping should be avoided as importantly. As it might put pressure on your stomach which affects the baby’s positioning in the womb.
Otherwise, it is also a kind of freefall position. If you are seeking a very restful position, then stomach sleeping can help you in a better way. While stomach sleeping is a great cause of snoring, it also triggers back pain, and spine injuries gradually.
If you are habitual to this position and finding difficult to avoid sleeping in this position, and nocturnal body movements then placing a pillow under your lower belly may help you ignore a back pain with good sleep.
What does your sleeping position say about you?
Stomach sleepers tend to be social in nature. They generally avoid criticism and encourage social being amongst individuals.
The Log position
The log position consists of lying on one side, arms wrapped around one another like a log. Interestingly, this position is considered to be the perfect position for your health, and sleep. Log sleepers usually feel healthy and energetic for the day in comparison to other sleepers.
What does your sleeping position say about you?
If you are a long sleeper, then your personality tends to be friendly and trustworthy. Moreover, log sleepers experience fewer health issues than other positions.
The Starfish position
Starfish sleepers are likely to sleep keeping their arms stretched up, and legs stretched apart. If you are one of those, then you are a starfish sleeper. This is a less used sleep position that is performed by a few individuals.
However, people who sleep like this, are closer to sleepwalking. Moreover, sleeping with your arms up for long hours may affect your body with numbness and stiffness in the morning.
What does your sleeping position say about you?
A starfish sleeper is considered to be a good listener. They are very attentive and communicative by nature.
Sleeping on your back
This position offers a bunch of health advantages to your body. Sleeping on your back makes the most gravity in keeping your body aligned with your spine and hip. Which, contributes a great role in protecting your spine, knee, and hip from pain and stiffness.
Interestingly, for those who want to keep their skin natural and fresh, this sleep position helps you to avoid wrinkling your face and look fresh throughout the day.
If you are someone who is suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or severe snoring, those individuals may find it difficult to sleep in this position.
What does your sleeping position say about you?
Back sleepers tend to be unrealistic, and high in expectations. They usually expect more from themselves as well as others.
Skydiver Position
As sounds, a skydiver position is when you sleep on your stomach with your head downwards, and arms and legs stretched apart. So, What your sleeping position say about you? This position can be counted as one of the restful positions that say that the person is open to adventure, and a risk-taker in his or her life.
Soldier position
Imagine a soldier standing straight. This is how you sleep in the soldier position. Sleeping with your both arms at your side with legs straight. Well, this position is usually found in very few populations.
If you sleep like a soldier, you are probably a strict, reserved, and meticulous person. This military stance on sleep type also means that you take your life very seriously and demand a lot from yourself. Soldier sleepers may find ease in this sleep position as it relaxes your spine and joints.
However, continuing to sleep in the same position for long hours may put you in a painful situation.
What does your sleeping position say about you?
Soldier sleepers are usually very serious and demanding in their life.
Yearner position
Lastly, the yearner sleeping position is where you sleep with your arms stretched. This is kind of similar to the skydiver position. So, what does your sleeping position say about you? However, yearner sleepers have an opposite personality trait, that says, this kind of person finds difficulty in decision making.
Side sleeping (Left side and right side)
Somewhat similar to the fetal position, side sleeping is another very popular sleeping position amongst individuals. However, unlike the fetal position, side sleepers (left side and right side) sleep with their legs straight, rather than curved. Knowingly, this position is very beneficial for one’s health as it helps in reducing snoring, and promotes good digestion.
However, sleeping in this position for lasting hours may trigger shoulder pain, and stiffness, which is half hip pain. To avoid such, one can place a pillow between their lower legs (near cards) which will help in the effective alignment of the body and reduce pain.
Do you know? Side sleeping during pregnancy helps in improvising maternal and fetal health. If you are a side sleeper, then you must have known What your sleeping position say about you. Majorly, the left side sleeping is considered to be more beneficial as it helps in reducing heartburn and encourages a healthy blood flow and circulation in the body.
Right side sleeping, on the other hand, relieves pressure, and strain, but can also worsen acid reflux.
The Need for a Good Sleeping Position
People spend roughly one-fourth of their day in sleeping, which is not enough for having a healthy start. Knowingly, a minimum of 7 to 8 hours is required to kickstart a day with energy, and freshness. What does your sleeping position say about you? However, the bitter truth is that most of us lag in doing so.
Amongst all, one factor that really affects one’s sleep is the sleep position. Therefore, to have a good sleep it is essential to have a good sleeping position. A poor sleeping position may affect your whole body, which might not be a good thing to start a morning. Moreover, bad sleep position and nocturnal body movements based may instigate insomnia symptoms3 in the body.
Almond Milk, not a Healthy Food?
3 Best Sleeping Positions that trigger a Healthy Lifestyle without doing Much!
Today, health issues have become one of the concerning factors of the hour. From kids to adults, everyone is in the circle of danger. However, we keep practicing several ways and activities that help in keeping us at the best level of our health.
But, we forgot that the most common health problems occur from bad sleep. Apparently, sleeping positions can be one of those causes. If you think that you sleep in a bad body posture, then here’s something for you.
Here, we have jotted down the best position that triggers a healthy lifestyle without doing much!
Fetal position
As discussed, fetal positions are not only beneficial for individuals but most of all, for pregnant women too. What does your sleeping position say about you? This position is highly effective for preventing severe snoring issues, and other health problems like back pain, spinal issues, joints, and more.
Otherwise, keeping a pillow in between your lower legs can help you give a better sleep than before.
Sleeping along one Side
Well, this is a bit similar to the fetal position, but here the legs are straight rather than legs curled. Moreover, side sleeping during pregnancy helps in improvising maternal and fetal health4. Majorly, the left side sleeping is considered to be more beneficial as it helps in reducing heartburn and encourages healthy blood circulation in the body.
Right side sleeping, on the other hand, relieves pressure, and strain, but can also worsen acid reflux.
Sleeping on your back
Another very effective sleep posture is back sleeping. This is the most common sleeping position that helps individual sleep comfortability avoiding stiffness, back pain, or lower back issues during the night.
Noticeably, if you are someone who is suffering from sleep apnea or chronic snoring, then this position may not be as advantageous as you think.
So, what does your sleeping position say about you?
How should I improve my Sleeping Postures Naturally?
Honestly, improving your sleeping postures at the night is a very tricky task, as we cannot always improve our positions in between the sleep. Apparently, we have to be prepared with this, before falling asleep. And that is why here are some of the easy ways by which you can improve your poor sleeping habits naturally, without disturbing your quality sleep.
Is your Mattress Good?
One of the common reasons to have a bad sleep is sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress. What your sleeping position says about you, entirely depends on the type of mattress. A too much bouncy mattress that is soft, may not help you get a good sleep and get up idle and with a dull morning.
Similarly, a too-hard mattress may trigger back pain, stiffness in the body, irritability, and more. Hence, it is equally important to buy a quality mattress that is not even too soft or hard according to your body postures.
Thin Pillow to support your Back and Knees
Certain sleeping positions are highly effective, whereas, some of them may give you lower back pain, stiffness, and body pain, that may ruin your entire day! Therefore, to avoid this, you can use thin pillows between your legs, arms, or beneath your neck.
This technique will help you get relief from the pain, and support the entire night.
A Takeaway from Us
While there could be a link between sleeping position and health, or sleeping position and your personality. However, most of all, it is essential to know to accomplish the quality of your sleep to feel a worthy sleep this and every night. Did you find out what your sleeping position say about you?
Well, this might take you to change positions, especially the postures, but will conclusively help you get a worthwhile sleep for the night. Moreover, if you are someone who is experiencing disturbing sleep issues, then there can be nothing better than to consult a sleep specialist to have more guidance and best recommendations based on your sleep habits.
So, did you find out which kind of sleeper are you? What does your sleeping position say about you? And what is your favorite sleep position? Know more here!
- Mazharian, Adrien, et al. “Incorrect sleeping position and eye rubbing in patients with unilateral or highly asymmetric keratoconus: a case-control study.” Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 258 (2020): 2431-2439. ↩︎
- Napier, Christopher, et al. “Session rating of perceived exertion combined with training volume for estimating training responses in runners.” Journal of Athletic Training 55.12 (2020): 1285-1291. ↩︎
- Sedov, Ivan D., et al. “Insomnia symptoms during pregnancy: A meta‐analysis.” Journal of sleep research 30.1 (2021): e13207. ↩︎
- Rager, Julia E., et al. “Review of the environmental prenatal exposome and its relationship to maternal and fetal health.” Reproductive Toxicology 98 (2020): 1-12. ↩︎
Last Updated on by Suchi