7 Sleeping Positions and What They Reveal about Your Personality

7 Sleeping Positions and What They Reveal about Your Personality

People have various sleeping positions that can reveal a lot about who they are while conscious.

This is quite a surprising thing, but many studies have been performed by various professionals, in which specific personality traits have been linked to sleeping positions and sleep patterns.

So… the way in which you curl up when you hit the pillow can say a lot about you as a person!

Professor Chris Idzikowski, the director of the UK Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, found most people don’t change their sleeping positions throughout their lives. Of all of the people he conducted research on, he found only 5 percent who said they slept in a different position every night. Our sleeping patterns and sleeping positions can be very individual and unusual. Leonardo da Vinci took 20-minute naps every four hours to recharge his intellectual batteries, Charles Dickens slept facing north because he felt it improved his creativity. What about you? What are your sleeping patterns? Do you have a favorite sleeping position?

The following sleeping positions and their correlated personality traits according to the surveys are a fun way to gather insight into our personalities as well as understanding underlying stresses we may be facing.

Can you find yourself amongst them?

1. Fetal Position (Curled up on your side)

This is the most common sleeping position. According to a global survey on the subject, those who sleep in the fetal position were found to be sturdy and strong on first impressions but introverted and sensitive at heart when better known. These people are reserved and usually take a while to open up to others but when they do, they are relaxed and comfortable. The outwardly tough appearance and brave face are actually a protection against the world.

However, if you are habitual of curling up to your left side you may be experiencing increasing stress on vital organs such as the liver, the heart, the stomach and the lungs. So, if fetus is your position of choice, take care to curl up on the right side of your body.

2. Log Position (Lying on your side with both arms straight down by your side)

Log sleepers are usually more sociable and even-tempered people who show a natural inclination to be with elite company. These individuals are also very trusting, to the point of being gullible. This has an expected downside: their tendency to believe in anyone – including absolute strangers – makes them easy targets for those who intend to cheat or double cross them.

This sleeping position has an associated health benefit, though. The position keeps the spine straight, which is great for people who suffer from back pain. So, if you are a log sleeper, you can rest assured your spine is in healthier shape.

3. Yearner / Reacher Position (On your side with both arms out in the front)

This position is exactly what it sounds like: You’re lying on your side with your arms outstretched in front of you as if yearning for something. Yearners (or reachers) are open to new things but they are also often suspicious and cynical. They yearn for something but set very high benchmarks for themselves. They do not worry about the amount of time that they take to make any decision. It is important for yearners to weigh the pros and cons of all their decisions repeatedly: they will act only when fully convinced of their action. However, the plus side is that once these folks make up their minds, they almost never change it or have any regrets.

A health benefit of resting on your side is that it can help assuage problems likeacid reflux and sleep apnea. However, only to an extent, and if the problems persist it’s advisable that one seeks advice from an expert.

4. Soldier Position (Lying on your back with both arms at your sides)

Picture a toy soldier: on your back, stick straight with your arms at your sides. Soldier sleepers are found to be calm and aloof. They like keeping themselves to themselves and do not see much point in making a big deal out of things. They can also be tough taskmasters, setting very high standards for themselves as well as for the others.

This sleeping position is found to be not too fantastic for your health and sleep hygiene. According to some researchers, sleeping on your back can lead to loud snoring, worsening of conditions like sleep apnea and, in general, poor night sleep. It’s recommended that soldier sleepers should try flipping over for a more refreshing and restful sleep.

5. Starfish (Lying on your back with both arms up by the sides of your head)

Starfish sleepers were found to be instantly likable people – and not without reason. These folks make for great listeners and amazing friends. Starfish sleepers are always willing to offer their help to friends in trouble and generally prefer keeping away from the limelight. So, if among your acquaintances you have someone who sleeps on his/her back with both arms up and around the pillow, consider yourself one fortunate person!

However, like the soldier sleepers, the starfish are also likely to snore heavily and have breathing issues while sleeping, leading to poor quality rest. So, if you are a starfish sleeper, you may want to reconsider your sleeping position.

6. The stargazer (Lying on your back with your arms wrapped above your head)

The name of this sleep style perfectly describes the people who pass out in this position, too. The stargazers tend to carry a happy-go-lucky attitude throughout life. Incredibly sociable and easy going, they have a great imagination and are often romantic. Stargazers love life, a good company and are used to being at the center of attention. They work stubbornly and persistently, but in a rational way, preferring to always tell the truth. These sleepers make their friendships top priority and will do whatever they can to help those closest to them. People who sleep in this position often have very strong personalities.

7. Freefall Position (Lying on your stomach with your hands up and around the pillow, your head turned to one side)

Freefallers often appear to be confident, extroverted and brash people. They add to the life of any party with their enthusiasm and merry-making. They’re also of a nervous and easily excitable disposition and tend to take criticism personally. Their zest-exuding exterior can readily camouflage the fact that these people are actually quite thin skinned. The freefall position – or any position in which you’re lying face down – is considered very good in aiding digestion.

References: