Is it Better to Sleep on the Side, Stomach or Back?

Did you know that people spend an average of about 1/3 of their life sleeping? That is because sleep is vital as it plays a massive role in the overall health of our life. Furthermore, it is a healthy break from the everyday stresses and activities of the day. However, did you know that it is surprising how much a person’s personality affects the way they sleep?

A survey involving 1,000 adults was conducted, and they were asked how they slept most of the time. According to their responses, some slept better when cuddling with a spouse. Others overextended on their back, others rolled up like a ball, and so on. The idea behind this is to understand how behavior types affect rest.

All in all, a majority of the participants slept like a baby in the fetal position. That is because over 26% of the participants preferred this position. The second most popular position by nearly 22% was the stomach (participants who slept on their stomach) and gently curdling the pillow.

According to the survey, the following five sleeping positions accounted for 78% of the participant.

Personality Traits and Sleep Position

According to psychological studies, a person’s body language speaks a lot about them. This fact applies when it comes to sleeping. For example, a majority of shy people favor snugger sleeping positions like the fetal position. Likewise, sleeping on either side while cuddling a pillow and the knees placed together is a sign of a shy person or someone sad or not confident. In our survey, those who slept in these two positions accounted for 63% of respondents. The respondents were introverted.

38% of participants who chose the fetal position were introverted thinkers, and 26% were introverted feelers.

A majority of extroverts prefer to sleep on their stomach. 30% of socializers prefer to sleep either on their bellies. They do so while hugging a pillow, and the knees bent. Also, they can have their arms over the pillow with their legs crossed.

Out of all the applicants who preferred to lay on their stomach to sleep while embracing a pillow with the knees bent, 9% were extroverted feelers, and 21% were extroverted thinkers. At the same time, the applicants preferred to sleep on their stomachs with arms over the pillow and legs closed; 11% were extroverted feelers, and 19% were extroverted thinkers.

Feelers And Thinkers Sleeping Position

Feelers tend to be warm and companionate, according to Myers & Briggs Foundation. As such, feelers prefer a tighter sleeping position, sleeping on either side while hugging the pillow with knees together, and fetal position. However, according to our findings, feelers preferred to sleep in the fetal position; and accounted for 31% of people.

A majority of thinkers prefer sleeping on their stomachs or back. The feelers prefer sleeping on either side, which is rather the opposite.

Introverts and Extroverts Sleeping Position

The most common sleeping position is the fetal position, with over 20% preferred personality type. 28% of introverts and 25% of extroverts sleep in this position. There is a higher number of introverts who prefer the fetal position compared to extroverts. On the other hand, some favored sleeping on their stomach with their arms spread over the pillow. Also, they had their knees raised, which accounted for 22% of the respondents.

When it comes to sleeping on the stomach or back with the legs crossed positions in our research, most of the respondents were introverted and extroverted. Nevertheless, the fetal; position remains the top sleeping position between couples.  This number was made up of 23% of both thinkers and feelers. The couples preferred sleeping back-to-back fetal positions with the back close to each other.

Spouses of feelers prefer intimate sleeping positions compared to thinkers. Feelers love to sleep in a close spooning position with their partner’s back to the close to their stomach.  On the other hand, thinkers sleep in similar positions but apart from each other.  Thinkers prefer to sleep back to back in the fetal position close to their partner. In our research, this accounted for 28%, while feeler accounted for 21%.

Introvert and Extrovert Couples Sleeping Positions

Over 30% of couples prefer to sleep close to their partner in the fetal position. At the same time, 22% chose the fetal position but with some distance to their partner. Sleeping close to your partner could affect your sleep significantly if one partner constantly shifts through the night. An uncomfortable mattress mainly causes this. To locate the best matters for couples, check our post on tips to find the best mattress for people with different styles.

The fetal and spooning positions ranked high among the extroverted and introverted participants in our survey. At least 30% of the participants chose either of these positions. Over 16% of extroverts prefer close/invasive spooning with their partners, while 13% preferred spooning with space apart.

Conclusion

It does not matter the type or preferred sleeping position; it is wise to do it on the best mattress available. It does not matter if you are a feeler or thinker, an extrovert or introvert; you deserve the best mattress to get quality sleep. In other words, finding the best mattress brand for you and tips to improve sleep is key.

FAQ

How do I know if I am sleeping well?

If you wake up shortly before the alarm goes off, it means that you have a good night’s sleep. This means that your body has developed a sleeping and wake pattern/routine. It means the body knows when it is expected to wake up. If you wake up and feel alert instead of tired, you have had a good night’s sleep.

Another sign that you are having a good sleep is only waking up at least once during the night to use the bathroom or drink some water. However, if you wake up more than once or have difficulties getting back to sleep, you might need to improve your sleep hygiene.

Is it better to sleep on your back or stomach for back pain?

Sleeping on your back is a great way to relieve back pain. Sleeping on your back places the spine straight; keeping it aligned while sleeping on your stomach causes the spine to stretch, worsening the pain. On the other hand, sleeping on your stomach is the worse way to alleviate back pain.

Why does my back hurt after waking up?

One of the main reasons you are feeling pain when you wake up may be due to comfort. For example, stomach sleepers are more likely to develop chronic pain. That is because gravity is pushing the stomach down and pulling the spine out of alignment.

Nevertheless, it is quite possible the mattress is not comfortable or supports your weight. It could be time to replace it. To know this for sure, consider sleeping somewhere else, like on your couch, and see if you will experience the same problem. If you do not, then it is time to get a new mattress.

Is It Better To Sleep Without A Pillow?

Answer: – A pillow is necessary for good sleep. That is because it offers head and neck support. This helps reduce strain on neck muscles. If you sleep without a pillow, you are more likely to wake up with a sore neck.

Only those who sleep with their stomach can sleep without a pillow comfortably. However, this fact is not proven and may not be a good idea. All in all, it is essential to ensure that you are very comfortable while sleeping for you to have a quality sleep. Comfort is the ley to have a great night’s sleep.