In addition to food, water and air, sleep is one of those things we truly can’t live without.
Here’s what your sleeping style says about you and your health…
Sleep On Your Tummy
If you prefer a prone position (lying nearly face-down), you’re probably a perfectionist who is compulsive, persistent and goal-orientated, says psychiatrist and sleep expert Samuel Dunkell. These qualities may be good for your career, but they don’t do your body any favours. Sleeping on your stomach can twist your neck into an awkward position, put excess pressure on your spine and make it more difficult to inhale, says Dr Lee Surkin. To avoid waking up all achy, gently nudge yourself into sleeping in a foetal pose by lying on your side with one pillow between your knees and another behind your back.
Read More: Drink This For Your Best Sleep – Ever!
Sleep On Your Back
Staring straight up at the ceiling can signal an adventurous, confident and receptive personality, says Dunkell. Dozing on your back also keeps pressure off your jaw, which is crucial for people with painful temporomandibular joint disorder (pain in the jaw joint). But back sleeping triggers undue stress on your airway, so it’s a bad idea for snorers. If you’re a noisy breather, try the pillow trick explained above or buy a full-body pillow that will keep you on your side.
Read More: 7 Things To Do If You Got No Sleep Last Night
Sleep On Your Side
Around 73 percent of women and 50 percent of men spend the night on their sides. Most curl into a semi-foetal pose, with their knees just slightly bent, says Dunkell. According to his research, such people tend to be compromising and appeasing, whereas those who snooze in full foetal (with their knees practically hugged to their chest) are introspective and intense. Health-wise, sleeping on either side curtails snoring and resting on your left side keeps your stomach active and eases heartburn, according to the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.
Looking for more sleeping tips? Here are seven easy sleep hacks for a better night’s rest, plus did you know that these everyday activities could be sabotaging your sleep?
