10 Sleeping Positions and What They Say About Your Personality

There are so many things in our lives that indicate what type of person we are. Everything from our choice at Starbucks to the way we design our home, all give little hints about who we are and what we value.

One of the most revealing things in our lives is how we sleep and the positions we sleep in. This is an unconscious choice and gives us insight into ourselves and a clue to those around us.

Want to understand yourself better?

Here are 10 most common sleeping positions and what they say about your personality.

1. Fetal Position

This position is common and is seen most often in very young children. But if you continue this practice into adulthood, it has significance for your everyday life.

The fetal position is characterized as sleeping on one side or the other with your knees tucked up to your chest and your arms pulled in under your chin.

Sleeping like that often implies that you tend to be introverted, project a tough exterior while maintaining a soft side, and you have a desire to protect yourself from outside forces.

In addition to being the most common sleep position, this is considered to be one of the safest as it allows your spine to maintain its natural alignment.

2. The Log

You’ve probably heard someone in your life say, “They’re sleeping like a log.” It usually only means that they’re sound asleep.

Sleeping like a log is one sleep position that also reveals more about yourself than simply the fact that you’re fast asleep and hard to wake.

The log position is seen as lying on one side or the other with your arms at rest at your sides. If you sleep like this you’re usually easy-going, social, and trusting of strangers. You may also end up being a little bit gullible.

You’re not alone though. Sleeping in the log position is fairly common but doesn’t quite overtake the fetal position as the most popular.

3. The Yearner

The yearner position starts just like the log position, with the person lying on one side or the other. Instead of the arms lying along your sides, they’re stretched in front of you.

This yearning sleep position often indicates that you have an open nature and aren’t quite as gullible as your log-sleeping fellows.

It also suggests you might be slow to make up your mind, but you’re set once you decide. Yearner and log sleeping positions are tied for occurrence and popularity, so you're not alone if this is how you sleep.

4. The Soldier

If side sleeping isn’t your cup of tea, you may be a soldier sleeper – and there are several unique implications from this style of snoozing.

The soldier position is when you sleep on your back with your arms by your sides. If you sleep in this position on the regular, you’re most likely quiet and reserved and you might hold yourself and others to very high standards.

While assuming this sleeping position naturally isn’t as common as the previous positions listed above, many people switch to this style of sleeping for the medical benefits it offers.

5. Stomach Sleeper

Newborns get supervised ‘tummy time,’ why shouldn’t we? Sleeping on your stomach is far less popular and offers specific insight into who you are and also what you do.

Stomach sleeping is simply sleeping face-down with your head tilted to one side. If you sleep like this with a pillow held in your arms, you're most likely gregarious with a tendency to be brash. You also don't like to be criticized and you'll most likely avoid situations that push boundaries.

Interestingly, studies have also found that people who sleep on their stomachs the most tend to be those who work in agriculture, are older - between 45 and 54, and are heavy drinkers as well.

6. Starfish

If the best way to sleep for you is to flop in the middle of the bed, taking up as much room as possible, you’re probably a starfish sleeper. Starfish sleeping can be done on your stomach or your back.

While it may seem like you’re being selfish by taking up as much space as possible, starfish sleepers have actually been found to be selfless, giving people who are always eager to lend a hand and a listening ear.

You may experience back pain when you sleep in this position. You can correct this with a rolled-up towel or pillow under your knees that will align your spine with its natural curve again.

7. Spooning

Hollywood movies would have us believe that each night, every couple spoons close together to fall asleep. But this sleeping position is actually rarer than they have us believe.

Spooning is characterized as two side sleepers who snuggle in close together, front to back with the arm of the “big spoon” under the head of the “little spoon.”

If you prefer to sleep in this position with your partner, you are both very secure in your relationship and continue to love each other still.

If you add to it by sharing the same pillow, it could mean you’re both well suited and trust each other completely.

8. Pillow Hugger

If you fall asleep clutching a pillow each night, you’re in the minority but your unique personality will usually always shine through brightly.

Pillow huggers like to be cozy and cuddled. They cherish and hold the relationships they have with important people as extremely valuable in their lives.

Most pillow sleepers also see these relationships as more important than anything else.

9.The Stargazer

This is a vulnerable sleeping position, and this vulnerability plays out in your everyday life as well.

Stargazers sleep on their backs with their arms wrapped up around their head. These sleepers tend to prioritize being with their friends above everything else.

They usually have a happy, easy-going disposition for the most part.

10. The Thinker

While somewhat similar to the fetal position, this sleeping style is a little different and just as intuitive as your unique personality.

If you find yourself in this position, curled up like the fetal position with one hand resting on your chin, you’re likely to be more emotional than others. This includes both positive and negative emotions.

You’ll often tend to have your emotions run wild and high at many different times and stages of life.

In Conclusion

While your sleeping style may seem like just your preference, it actually gives revealing insight into your personality. This insight can make you more aware of your quirks and the way you interact with the world.

Be conscious of how you sleep and see how closely your personality matches up with your sleeping style!