If you want an insight into somebody's true personality, then try to catch a glimpse of the way they sleep. Scientists believe the position in which a person goes to sleep provides an important clue about the kind of person they are.
Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, has analysed six common sleeping positions - and found that each is linked to a particular personality type.
"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.
"What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect."
The Foetus: Those who curl up in the foetus position are described as tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. They may be shy when they first meet somebody, but soon relax. This is the most common sleeping position, adopted by 41% of the 1,000 people who took part in the survey. More than twice as many women as men tend to adopt this position.
Log (15%): Lying on your side with both arms down by your side. These sleepers are easy going, social people who like being part of the in-crowd, and who are trusting of strangers. However, they may be gullible.
The yearner (13%): People who sleep on their side with both arms out in front are said to have an open nature, but can be suspicious, cynical. They are slow to make up their minds, but once they have taken a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.
Soldier (8%): Lying on your back with both arms pinned to your sides. People who sleep in this position are generally quiet and reserved. They don't like a fuss, but set themselves and others high standards.
Freefall (7%): Lying on your front with your hands around the pillow, and your head turned to one side. Often gregarious and brash people, but can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath, and don't like criticism, or extreme situations.
Starfish (5%): Lying on your back with both arms up around the pillow. These sleepers make good friends because they are always ready to listen to others, and offer help when needed. They generally don't like to be the centre of attention. The remainder of those in the poll said the position they fell asleep varied or did not know.
Health effect:
Professor Idzikowski also examined the effect of various sleeping positions on health.
He concluded that the freefall position was good for digestion, while the starfish and soldier positions were more likely to lead to snoring and a bad night's sleep.
Professor Idzikowski said: "Lying down flat means that stomach contents can more readily be worked back up into the mouth, while those who lie on their back may end up snoring and breathing less well during the night.
"Both these postures may not necessarily awaken the sleeper but could cause a less refreshing night's sleep."
The research also found that most people are unlikely to change their sleeping position. Just 5% said they sleep in a different position every night.
Duvet position:
Professor Idzikowski also found that one arm or leg sticking out of the duvet is Britain's most common position, followed by both feet poking out the end.
One in ten people like to cover themselves entirely with the duvet.
Where do you fit in this study? Do you sleep in the most common position? I usually go to sleep on my side, but I often wake on my back with both arms up over my head, curled around the pillow. Speaking of pillows, have you seen the new "Mooshi" or "Cooshie" pillows? They are made by various firms (and have different names), but all of them have tiny microfiber beads inside a stretchy cover. They are absolutely the best for sleeping; they don't put wrinkles or creases on your face, and they support your head and neck like no other pillow I've ever used.
Have you ever awakened from a deep sleep with your ear hurting and feeling like it has been permanently glued back to your skull? Then when you raise your head off the pillow for a minute that ear hurts even worse? I don't know why it happens, but I speculate that it is because we stay too long in one position; putting too much pressure on that ear. Since I began sleeping on my Mooshie, that has not happened to me. That company should hire me as their spokesperson since I am so gung-ho for them!
What I wonder is how Professor Idzikowski came up with his analysis of each position? How would he know that people who sleep in the "Log" position are gullible? Or that "Freefall" sleepers hate criticism? I just don't see the connection.
10 comments:
I think Yearner.
I have a story about someone who slept on his back after hitting the Shoney's "all you can eat" food bar at 3 am and the resulting disaster, otherwise known as "why I can no longer eat at Shoney's". Unfortunately, this is too gross to tell.
I am a freefall-most of the time, the rest I am probably more of a log. Funny as I think of that old saying that you slept like a log. Thanks, this was interesting, although I am not sure how on target it is. I don't care for criticism, but I don't think there are many who really do? Maybe I am wrong, maybe somewhere is someone who is just waiting for the next critic.
I get that ear thing all the time...I think my grandmother calls it cauliflower ear, although I have no idea why. Whatever it's called...it hurts like heck!
What a great post, Judy! I love this topic. We do spend a third of our lives (or thereabouts) sleeping and I've always been intrigued by sleep studies. According to this article, I'm a fetus/freefall sleeper. I guess that makes me a gregarious, nervy, thin-skinned, shy person? hahaha
I rotate through several of these positions on any given night, usually waking up sprawled in every which direction. The "Organized Chaos" position, I like to call it.
:-)
I'm not so sure I'd agree with his analysis either. For one thing, I sleep with my hub,and he's all over the bed. The cat sneaks in the bed at night sometimes and we find ourselves moving out of the way. So I could end up in any position as a result!
If another person is in bed with you, that can really affect the position you choose to sleep in.
And let's say you're told that the way you sleep is typical of those people who are thin skinned or anti-social, and yet it is the position that is the most comfortable for you. then what? more therapy? LOL..
I'm a "Freefall" and "Often gregarious and brash people, but can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath, and don't like criticism, or extreme situations" fits me to a tee!!
Fetus- or foetus as the Brits spell it, thereby rendering it absolutely nasty. But I attribute that to trying to keep my underbelly warm. You always have such interesting stuff over here, Judy!
He probably got his findings by using the eenie-meenie-minie-mo method.
I sleep mostly on my back and then move to my side sometimes.
Kenju, I'm forever indebted to you. I was about to skip reading this post because of being short on time and I had studied this in college. However, my comfy pillow bit the dust a about 6 months ago. no pillows I found have given me a good night's sleep. I awaken with a stiff neck, shoulders and worse. (I even resorted to an expensive pillow, that took a refund luckily, because it turned out to be too heavy and hurt my arms after sleeping.)
So, I'm going to look for your recommendation. Thx so very much!!!!
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