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Most of us find that we gravitate naturally towards a single sleep position. It may be the one you feel most comfortable in, or the one that you find yourself waking up in every morning despite having seemingly fallen asleep another way. You certainly aren’t alone—many of us have “our” own style of sleeping, and it can actually say a lot about our habits and personalities.
Fetal Position
In the fetal position, people sleep on their side with their knees tucked into their chests. If you sleep in this position, you are a strong “self-soother.” Self-soothers are great at dealing with their own problems and regulating their own emotions. The flip side is that sometimes strong self-soothers lack empathy, or get impatient with other people and their issues. Try sleeping on your back and you may find yourself feeling more accepting and open-minded, says Dan Adler, founder of Wink Beds, a luxury mattress startup based in New York. Something to note: There’s a chance you may have low blood pressure. Because low blood pressure can make you feel cold, it may urge you to curl up into a ball or fetus position.
Back Sleeper
This position is self-explanatory—you sleep on their back with both arms down by your sides. Back sleepers tend to be relaxed, methodical, and strong at routine (perhaps a good bedtime routine, we hope!), and that translates to sleep posture. For most people, sleeping on the back is the healthiest position for spinal, back, and neck alignment, though many people actually find it the most difficult position to fall asleep in, says Adler.
Generally, back sleepers are great at clearing their minds and staying in the moment, though often times they are secretly craving adventure or new experiences that they wouldn’t readily seek out on their own. One downside is that back sleepers are at risk of becoming snorers. Sleeping on your back makes the back of your tongue and soft palate collapse to the back wall of your throat, causing a vibrating sound during sleep.
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Free Fall
In this position, people sleep flat on their stomach with their arms stretched up over head. If you sleep in free fall, it is likely that you are a highly social individual that puts new adventures and social experiences above all else, says Adler. The flip side is that you’re often disorganized and tend to “go with the flow” when a little more structure would serve you well. The free fall sleep posture can be a byproduct of your lifestyle, but more likely, it’s a byproduct of your mentality. You keep going and going until you eventually crash. Try adopting a relaxing bedtime routine and stick with it for a finite period. You may find that having a routine does wonders for your happiness and state of mind. Free fallers tend to make the best lovers, says Adler. Their passion for people drives them towards deep connections and exciting relationships.
The Starfish
In this sleep position, arms and legs spread wide across the entire sleep surface. Starfish tend to be highly creative, yet at times can appear to be somewhat socially withdrawn, says Adler. As the sleep posture may suggest, “starfishes” usually sleep best when left on their own. The same is often true for them in life. Starfishes need space to create, and the presence of others can drain their energy and sap their creative flair. If you’re a “starfish,” and you’re feeling like your energy is blocked, it may be time to ditch your partner, take some time away from your crew of friends, or perhaps simply invest in a bigger bed.
Side Sleeper
Side sleepers make great friends, are great listeners, and are very well rounded, says Adler. They’re great at sharing and tend to put other people’s interests and well-being above their own. Side sleepers make great partners as they have the flexibility to relate to the fast-paced free faller as well as the calculating and methodical back sleeper. On the flip side, sometimes side sleepers can become self-sacrificing. Through their noble tendency to look after and care for others, they run the risk of losing sight of their own hopes, dreams, and desires. If you are a side sleeper and you feel like your life is getting out of control, try doing something a little selfish for a change—it may drastically alter your outlook.
Read more: How to Boost Beauty While You Sleep
