3 Sleeping Positions and What They Say About Your Personality

Once again, it’s that time of day — or night. You turn off the lights, pull back your blankets, and crawl into bed once your bedtime routine is complete. How do you get comfortable under the sheets? It’s possible that your sleeping position has become completely automatic at this point. If you’ve slept in the same position in bed since childhood, you might not even notice it each night. Whether you change over to one side right after falling back onto your pillows or spend some time alternating between poses to get a little more comfortable, your favorite sleep posture can reveal crucial health information. We’ll look at some of the sleep positions that have been connected to health issues or better wellness outcomes. But, as some experts have indicated, does your habitual sleep position have anything to do with who you are as a person? Continue reading for more information… THE PERSONALITY - SLEEPING POSITION CONNECTION: You probably don’t give much thought to what your preferred sleeping position entails, aside from a desire for maximum comfort while you sleep. However, some sleep psychologists and specialists believe that personality can influence sleep position and provide insight into your characteristics and actions. Chris Idzikowski, a professor and sleep researcher, investigated over 1,000 British adults to see if there were any links between sleep position and personality. He drew linkages between frequent sleep postures and personality traits based on the findings. Here are a handful of his discoveries: - The fetal position is the most popular, especially among women. Shyness and sensitivity are associated with this position.- People who sleep on one side with their arms outstretched are likely to be friendly yet wary. They also have a strong tendency to stick to their decisions.- A social personality and a dislike of criticism are associated to stomach sleeping with hands up or under the pillow. Because the study had some important limitations, it’s wise to take these findings with a grain of salt. It only looked at the outcomes of roughly 1,000 people, which is a small sample size compared to the total population.When a second group of volunteers completed the same survey, the results were different, indicating that the findings may not apply to everyone.People self-reported their sleeping positions and personality attributes, allowing for increased potential bias. The Better Sleep Council (BSC) performed a poll on sleep position among Americans, which revealed a few more facts. Here’s a basic rundown: -Those who sleep in the log position (on one side with both arms down) say they obtain enough sleep and are “healthier” than those who sleep in other configurations.-Those with a master degree or above are more likely than those with less education to favor the fetal position.-Generation X and millennials are more likely than baby boomers to choose stomach sleeping. On the other hand, baby boomers are more prone to sleep on one side with their arms spread.-People who are more outgoing are less likely to sleep on their stomachs with their arms outstretched. Again, polls aren’t the same as controlled trials or other scientific studies, and other sleep specialists aren’t certain that sleep and personality are linked. THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF SLEEPING IN A CERTAIN POSITION: There’s a lot more evidence that some aspects of health and wellness, both positive and negative, are linked to sleep position. Here’s everything you should know about each sleeping position. 1. SLEEPING ON THE SIDE Side sleeping is typically recommended by experts since it can aid with snoring and digestion. However, if you sleep on your right side, you may experience increasing acid reflux or other digestive troubles. Sleeping on your left side keeps your stomach below your throat, making stomach acid rise more difficult. Sleeping on one’s side during pregnancy is linked to better mother and fetal health, while the left side is also preferred. Sleeping on your left side not only lowers heartburn, but also improves blood flow and decreases uterine strain. Sleeping on your side can help ease lower back pain and improve spinal alignment, but if you have neck or shoulder discomfort, you may find sleeping on your side challenging. 2. SLEEPING ON YOUR STOMACH While stomach sleeping may help with obstructive sleep apnea and persistent snoring, it puts a strain on your neck and lower back, especially if you sleep on a softer mattress. This tension might cause your spine to become misaligned, resulting in daytime pain. 3. SLEEPING ON YOUR BACK Intraocular pressure can be raised by sleeping on your side or stomach. Glaucoma risk factor: If you have sensitive skin, you may notice that rubbing your face on the pillow causes more breakouts, discomfort, or even facial creases in the morning. Back sleeping, to be precise. Though back sleeping can be beneficial at any age — medics recommend that infants sleep on their backs to lessen the risk of SIDS — it isn’t always the best option for adults. “People with obstructive sleep apnea, a significant medical disease in which the airway becomes clogged frequently throughout sleep, have more breathing problems when they sleep on their backs,” Wu explains. “This is most likely due to the fact that when sleeping on your back, the airway is more easily blocked.” What about back aches and pains? Back sleeping can aggravate lower back and neck pain for some people. Others find that sleeping on their backs is the only way to get some relief. CONCLUSION: While there may be some correlations between sleep position and health, your favourite sleeping position is unlikely to be related to your personality. If the quality of your sleep leaves something to be desired, experimenting with a new sleep position may be beneficial. A sleep specialist can provide additional advice and recommendations depending on your specific sleep requirements. Are you sleeping enough rest? You probably don’t have to be concerned about how you sleep. After all, the optimal sleep position is one that allows you to obtain the rest you require.