What Your Sleeping Position Says About Your Personality

If you want to get some exclusive insight into someone’s true personality, all you have to do is watch them sleep.

…Or how about they just tell you? That’s a little less invasive and creepy.

Researchers, psychologists and sleep scientists alike have been studying the most common sleep patterns to get an inside scoop about what they mean. It turns out, there are 9 different sleeping positions, and each can tell a lot about the sleeper’s personality. Let’s take a look at each position, from most to least popular:

The Most Common Sleeping Positions and What They Say About You

1. The Fetal Position

The fetal position is when you curl your knees in towards your chest like you’re tucked into a safe little ball.

In a study done by Chris Idzikowski, director of the UK’s Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, 41% of the sleeping participants adopted this position. In fact, double the amount of women slept in the fetal position compared to men in this experiment.

•  Personality Traits: Those who find comfort in this natural postition can be described as having a hard shell: tough on the outside, but a huge softy on the inside. They are typically shy when you first meet them, then tend to open up and relax quickly.

2. The Log

15% of people seem to find passing out like a log (lying on their side with their arms by their side) as the best way to catch some precious z’s. Does this boring, stiff sleeping position mean the sleeper is boring too? No! In fact, the opposite is true.

• Personality Traits: People who sleep like a log are known as social butterflies. Although they are friendly, carefree, and popular, these social, trusting people are known for being gullible.

3. The Yearner

As if reaching out for something, the yearner is the position where you sleep on your side, but have your arms stretched out in front of you.

• Personality Traits: People who sleep like this are a little complicated: they are open-minded, yet cynical; slow and suspicious when making a decision, but stick to it once their minds are made up.

4. The Soldier

Exactly as it sounds, the soldier position is where you sleep on your back with your arms by your sides. Only 8% of sleepers claim to get the most sleep this way.

• Personality Traits: Those who find themselves sleeping this way are typically quiet, reserved, and hold both themselves and other people to high standards and strict moral codes.

5. The Freefaller

Having trouble imagining this one? It’s where you’re lying on your stomach with your arms wrapped around your pillow and head turned to the side. Sleeping on your stomach is something many people find uncomfortable, but those who enjoy thisposition wouldn’t have it any other way.

• Personality Traits: Freefalling sleepers are bold and sociable on the outside, but typically don’t have the thick skin to deal with criticism or absurd situations.

6. The Starfish

Another position that looks just the way it sounds: starfish sleepers sprawl out over the entire bed, comfortable and carefree. Another name you may be familiar with to describe it would be “spread-eagle“. If you’re one to stretch out like this, chances are you’re a great friend.

• Personality Traits: Starfish sleepers are always eager to lend an ear or give a helping hand to their friends in need. They don’t necessarily like being the center of attention, but don’t mind if they find themselves there from time to time.

7. The Stargazer

This position may not be the most popular, but it’s definitely a favorite position of mine. Stargazers find themselves lying on their back with their arms wrapped around their head.

• Personality Traits: They make their friends a priority and do anything in their power to help those they hold dear to them. People who sleep in this position tend to have a positive, “happy-go-lucky” outlook on life.

8. The Pillow Hugger

People who are pillow huggers love to get snug and cuddled in bed, and are similar in personality to those stargazers above–they hold high value to the close, personal bonds in their life.

• Personality Traits: Whether it be family, friends or a significant other, pillow huggers cherish those relationships over everything else.

9. The Thinker

Last but not least, this position is similar to the fetal position, except you’ll always have a hand gently resting on your chin.

• Personality Traits: Emotions run high and tend to vary between two extremes for whoever finds themselves sleeping in this manner.

Tell me: What’s your go-to sleeping position? <--- CLICK TO TWEET

It’s fascinating to see the truths behind personality types and sleeping positions, and just like how your personality doesn’t change over time, neither does the way you sleep. Only 5% of people reported that they sleep in a different position every night, while all other people and positions remained consistent.

Before you go to bed tonight, check out the position you find yourself in right before you fall asleep. Does your position and personality type match up?

Want even more? Check out:

• The Science of Better Sleep
• What Does Your Personality Say About You?
• How to Optimize Your Personality