What does your sleep position reveal about your personality?

[bigbutchmistie]

by Jessica Ashley, Shine staff, on Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:55pm PDT

These days, the way that I sleep simply says, "I am happy to be single and spending five to seven hours sprawled out in the center of my bed alone."

At other points, my tightly squeezed eyes and curled-up body would have screamed, "I know the baby will wake up/someone will start snoring/the alarm will begin blaring as soon as I finally, finally, finally get to sleep."

Years and years ago, the corpse-looking college student still in her clothes would have mumbled something like, "Finals. Boys. Beer."

Our lives, the amount of sleep we get, and how well we actually rest during those nighttime hours may change drastically over time. However, one sleep researcher says that our body position in bed could say something about who we are, not just what else is happening in our lives.

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, says that a study of 1,000 Brits revealed that the six most common sleeping positions are indicative of personality types.

If this sounds ridiculous (and honestly, I'd love to see information on this study and the analysis fleshed out further than any of the reports I could find), consider that Idzikowski says it comes down to body language.

"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us," Idzikowski said. "What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect."

The research also links certain sleeping positions with health risks. Some aid digestion while others spur on snoring and restlessness.

Here are the six common sleeping positions and correlated personality traits and health implications, according to this study.






Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.

Log position - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people sleep like a log.

Yearner position - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13% of partipants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.

Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8% study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night's sleep.

Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often.

If you think you are one of those people who move through all of these positions, that's not likely to really be the case. Idzikowski said the research reveals most people stay in the same position all night and only 5% lay differently night by night. Also interesting is that the study showed only one in ten people cover their bodies entirely with a blanket, with most people exposing an arm, leg, or both feet.


Let's see how the Shine readers are resting these days. No need to get yourself to a sleep lab or set up the video cam to run all night. We'll take your word for it on our own not-so-scientific but still fascinating research.

[bigbutchmistie]

I sleep in the

Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly

[Write14u]

I'm a free faller. I can start off on my side or on my back, but I can't truly sleep unless I'm on my stomach. And yes, I'm brash and outgoing. *grin*

[Soft*Silver]

yearner............

[Guy]

I guess im brash and outgoing too :blink:

[Cyclopea]

I don't sleep in any of those positions!
I sleep half on my side half on my belly with one leg straight and the other stretching out and my arms in front of me but so tightly clenched that they often fall asleep. Maybe an upper-fetal lower wtf situation. What does that mean??? lol
:worried:

[Andrew, Jr.]

I don't sleep in any of the position listed. I am wayyy to restless & violent.

[betenoire]

Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

[Ms. Tabitha]

Freefall position - Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

:dots:

[storyofmylife]

I am a Freefall

[Gemme]

I don't sleep in any of those positions!
I sleep half on my side half on my belly with one leg straight and the other stretching out and my arms in front of me but so tightly clenched that they often fall asleep. Maybe an upper-fetal lower wtf situation. What does that mean??? lol
:worried:


I don't sleep in any of the position listed. I am wayyy to restless & violent.


Like these two, I don't sleep in the positions listed. I sleep on my right side because it helps with insomnia (the heart shifts position and allows for more slow and steady beats) and my right arm and hand is usually curled under my head and/or pillow with the left doing whatever it feels like at the moment. Sometimes my legs curl up into what might be considered a loose fetal position but mostly they kind of do what they want, which is usually one straight and one flung off the side of the bed but still halfway under the covers.

Analyze that, Jessica Ashley and Shine! :blink:

[afixer]

I sleep in any position that allows me to get to sleep.

mostly a mix of fetal and yearner with a splash of freefall.

[PinkieLee]

Yep, another freefaller here, too!

I start out on my side, with one arm ALWAYS underneath a pillow, but always end up on my stomach.

[bigbutchmistie]

Bumpity Bump Bump BUMP! LOL

[Abigail Crabby]

Freefall position - Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

[luv2luvgirls]

free faller...

[theoddz]

Soldier, mostly, with a tad of Yearner. :|

~Theo~ :bouquet:

[Blade]

Soldier.............tiny bit of yearner some nights

[Jessica]

Yearner- but sometimes i like to mix it up-whatever it takes to get comfortable enough to fall asleep :)

[jelli]

I am definitely a freefalling fetus that loves to spoon!

[Starbuck]

First of all, BUMP! I'm a fetal position sleeper to get to sleep, then it never fails I wake up as a free faller. I hate that because it makes my neck hurt.

[LaneyDoll]

These two most resemble me....

Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.

Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

:sparklyheart:

[tiggs]

Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8% study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night's sleep.

Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often.

Well I am typically in the soldier position but at times will tuck up my arms under my pillows if I just can't fall asleep.

Oh and I don't believe the snoring part AT ALL no matter what anyone says. :hk36:

[*Anya*]

Having hard time came from dentist can't Keyboard. Wobdered If he slipped me a roofie. Can't keyboard,?feel loaded. Can't think. Forgot what to write what my point was. Think i Better Sleep it off. He prepped tooth for Crown. Maybe do not need second root canal in the last 6- months already had one. They hurt and cost boocou money honey . hurts like helll right now.

Think this is my worst post ever, no? Oh I remembered, will sleep on my side, too Hot to
Wear clothing in bed, on my right side in center of pillow fort.

Night everyone;)

[LipstickLola]

Due to 50 year old joints, Imma fetal freefallin yearning logger :moonstars:

[starryeyes]

I'm a freefaller all the way! :-D I love sleeping on my tummy and hugging my pillow!

[Kätzchen]

I start out as a yearner who often ends up in a curled, fetal position with probably a skosh of free-falling

[BugsAndKisses]

Yearner position...i can be prety stubborn n bullheaded....but isn't everyone!?

[1QuirkyKiwi]

I sleep in the recovery style position, with my right knee bent up and slightly more on my tummy and with a body pillow under so that my spine is kept straighter. Not sure what that says about me......lol!

[*Anya*]

Yikes! Not my usual post, was it? Lol! Kind of embarrassing but heck, it is what it is:) Uh, it was some Nitrous Oxide @ the dentist and then one pain pill. Not very used to "substances" I guess!

Anyway: fetal position, on my right side-always.

I do make a pillow "fort"! 2-3 pillows on my right side, one behind me and a king pillow under my head! All are down feather pillows, of course; medium firm.

:):)

Having hard time came from dentist can't Keyboard. Wobdered If he slipped me a roofie. Can't keyboard,?feel loaded. Can't think. Forgot what to write what my point was. Think i Better Sleep it off. He prepped tooth for Crown. Maybe do not need second root canal in the last 6- months already had one. They hurt and cost boocou money honey . hurts like helll right now.

Think this is my worst post ever, no? Oh I remembered, will sleep on my side, too Hot to
Wear clothing in bed, on my right side in center of pillow fort.

Night everyone;)

[MsTinkerbelly]

Starfish:moonstars:

[willow]

Usually yearner, but if I'm having a restless night all 6 will get a turn with a lil pillow hugging thrown in for good measure!

[EnderD_503]

Eh, it changes night to night and throughout the night. I tend to change positions a lot before eventually falling asleep, and it's rarely in the same position. I usually alternate between some "fetal/yearner/freefaller" position, though sometimes I find its easier to get to sleep in a "soldier" position on nights where I find it hard to get to sleep. My "yearner" position also involves resting my arms on half my pillow.

And yes, the blanket rarely covers all of me except sometimes in winter. I hate heat/feeling too hot when I sleep.

I think their linking of sleep positions and personality is a bit silly, though :p Either that or I have numerous personalities :p

[1QuirkyKiwi]

And yes, the blanket rarely covers all of me except sometimes in winter. I hate heat/feeling too hot when I sleep.

I think their linking of sleep positions and personality is a bit silly, though :p Either that or I have numerous personalities :p

Can I just ask; which one of you said that? *Sniggers*

I love a cold bedroom and if possible the window open just a smidge. I hate sleeping under the Duvet, yet, when it's really cold and snowing outside, I'll cover up, up to my hips, then throw the duvet off when I get too hot, lol!

[EnderD_503]

Can I just ask; which one of you said that? *Sniggers*

I love a cold bedroom and if possible the window open just a smidge. I hate sleeping under the Duvet, yet, when it's really cold and snowing outside, I'll cover up, up to my hips, then throw the duvet off when I get too hot, lol!

I'm not too sure. I haven't gotten around to naming all my personalities yet :cheesy:

It's odd how a person can start off the night cold, then in the middle of the night get too hot and have to discard blankets. I've always been told that the body cools down when you sleep, but I have evidence to the contrary! Their science be wrong, damnit! lol

[JoSchmooze]

Yearner position - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13% of partipants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.

But then now that I have the CPAP is has to be some sort of modified yearner.....

[1QuirkyKiwi]

I'm not too sure. I haven't gotten around to naming all my personalities yet :cheesy:

It's odd how a person can start off the night cold, then in the middle of the night get too hot and have to discard blankets. I've always been told that the body cools down when you sleep, but I have evidence to the contrary! Their science be wrong, damnit! lol

I'll say "Hello" to you all, lol!

Science doesn't take into account a woman's 'Time of the Month' when her body temperatures rises slightly. There's also the consideration of the type of mattress used - a Foam/Memory Foam one, which adds insulation and heats up the body (absolute hell in the Summer when it's humid at night! LOL!). The humidity at night doesn't allow the body to cool much......Does a person work nights......do they have A/C or suffer the heat, lol! There's probably more that I haven't thought of, lol!

Maybe the science of the body's temperature dropping during sleep is out dated now?!

[EnderD_503]

I'll say "Hello" to you all, lol!

Science doesn't take into account a woman's 'Time of the Month' when her body temperatures rises slightly. There's also the consideration of the type of mattress used - a Foam/Memory Foam one, which adds insulation and heats up the body (absolute hell in the Summer when it's humid at night! LOL!). The humidity at night doesn't allow the body to cool much......Does a person work nights......do they have A/C or suffer the heat, lol! There's probably more that I haven't thought of, lol!

Maybe the science of the body's temperature dropping during sleep is out dated now?!

We say "Hello" in return. Witness our multiple wavings :p

Yes! I call for new studies! But most of these questions just remind me of the hell that is the summer months where one must reject all blankets and sheets, and lovingly hug fans set on High because one does not have A/C :| It's a sad, sad fate that warrants up to date studies for the promotion of lower body temperatures.

[Apocalipstic]

*starfish* snicker

I am a multiple personality sleeper...I vary depending on temp, how I feel, if anyone is in bed with me, how i feel about them, where the puppies and kitties are, how much caffeine I have had...etc.

[Sparkle]

I'm a freefall naturally & most comfortably...(which is very very bad for my spine)

but if I'm being good I sleep in a soldier position with my head on a tempurpedic pillow and pillows at my sides and under my knees to keep me from rolling over into a freefall position - in an attempt to keep my cervical spine in alignment.

[Hack]

Starfish if both muscle relaxers and pain meds have been deployed. Yearner if not as heavily drugged. And I am a confirmed pillow hugger or spooner (if I have special company) in this position.

[Sachita]

Free fall and festus. I'm all over the bed and hard to sleep with. I also like to sleep naked. What does that say? lol