There has long been speculation that the position you sleep in may indicate certain personality traits. Although this theory has not been scientifically proven, many psychologists have chimed in that how we sleep does impact behavioral tendencies.
Getting a good night’s rest is conducive to a proper night’s rest, and a comfortable, supportive sleep position is a part of that. When you sleep your body moves into what is naturally comfortable for you, but you also need to have an awareness of spinal support for physical and mental rejuvenation.
You might want to check: How to Improve Your Sleeping Posture
Sleep Positions and Your Health
There are three main sleep positions: back, side, and stomach. It has long been considered that back sleepers have the most supportive, healthy position. When combined with a supportive mattress and thin pillow that provides a place to cradle the neck, the spine is in its most neutral position for good blood flow.
Side sleepers need a supportive mattress with a malleable surface to help cradle the hips, torso, and shoulders. A loftier, more firm pillow is also needed to help keep the head aligned with the rest of the body for spinal alignment. Sleeping on the left side also helps with organ function and digestion.
Stomach sleepers have the most compromised position and need a firmer mattress and a thin to non-existent pillow to avoid moving the head and neck higher than the rest of the spine.
Of course, there are many variances of these positions, and the way you place your arms and legs, or support your body with pillows can say a lot about what makes you comfortable and the quality of sleep you get.
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Sleep Positions and Your Personality
Being comfortable and supported through the night directly influences your sleep quality. You need to move multiple times through the sleep cycle, and if you aren’t comfortable you will toss and turn and struggle to fall into the deeper parts of the sleep cycle that help influence healthy body processes.
— Back Sleepers
As mentioned, back sleepers have a tendency to have the healthiest, most supportive position. As long as the spine is kept neutral and the head is not lifted too high, the body is able to better regulate and regenerate.
— The Soldier
Called the soldier due to how straight the position is, the legs are straight as are the arms; lying straight along the sides of the body. The personality of soldier sleepers is often reserved and quiet, holding high standards. Many people start out in the soldier but move into other positions once they drift off to sleep.
— The Starfish
The starfish lays upon their back with legs and arms outstretched. Arms may be to the sides or up near the pillow, and legs are generally bent or stretched out, resting upon the mattress or a leg pillow. Starfish sleepers tend to value friendships but do not like to bring attention to themselves. They are good listeners and dedicated to helping others.
— Side Sleepers
Side sleepers also have a healthy sleep position as long as they have a mattress that compresses to provide spinal alignment and a good pillow for head and neck support.
— Fetal
When in the fetal position that sleeper curls up into a shape similar to a baby in the womb. The legs are bent with the knees pulled up closer to the body, and the arms are bent and curled to the front. Sometimes the bottom arm is curled up under the pillow. Fetal sleepers often like a body pillow as well to support their form.
Fetal sleepers often are personalized by anxiety and emotional responses depending on the tightness of the body curl. These traits tend to relax or disappear the more relaxed and spread out the fetal position is.
— The Log
The log is similar to the soldier, but on the side. Since few people will sleep with both legs and arms extended to their side, the log is a rare position. Most people will keep at least one, if not both arms folded even if their legs are extended.
The log (or semi-log) sleeper usually has a social personality and interacts easily with people around them. These attractive traits can be tempered by gullibility.
— The Yearner
Yearners sleep in a position similar to the log, but instead of their arms staying near their side, they outstretch their arms forwards. Called the yearner since it looks as if they are ‘yearning’ or leaning towards something, they have a tendency to be open and willing to try new experiences.
— Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers are already in a compromised position as it is impossible to keep the spinal aligned and neutral due to having to turn it to one side or another. The freefall position is common with stomach sleepers and is defined by the arms and hands raised up either under or upon the pillow with the head turned to the side. Legs are generally stretched out, or slightly bent.
Freefall sleepers are usually very social, to the point of being brash. However, they also are usually very sensitive and may be uncomfortable with criticism and conforntation.
You might want to check: What Are The Best Sleep Positions and Which One Should You Use?
Wrapping it Up
Even though there is no true scientific backing, many observations in the medical field have led to conclusions that certain personality traits may be influenced by how you sleep. Everyone sleeps in one of three positions: back, side, or stomach. Many people may move from one to another through the night as well.
Review the above sleep position descriptions to determine if any are accurate to your own preferences.
Photo credit: AA.Shkob/Shutterstock;
The Starfish/Shutterstock; Horizonman/Shutterstock;
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock; Voyagerix/Shutterstock;
Double Brain/Shutterstock; musbila/Shutterstock;
Africa Studio/Shutterstock; Prostock-studio/Shutterstock;
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