It’s something we all look forward to after a stressful day at work.
But when you get into bed and cover yourself with the duvet, what position do you naturally gravitate toward?
To celebrate World Sleep Day 2024, experts have revealed the best and worst sleeping positions.
From ‘Fetus’ to ‘Soldier’, most people sleep in one of the six main positions, and some are much better for us than others.
“Although you may not feel instantly uncomfortable in bed, if you regularly wake up with aches and pains, or if you frequently suffer from disturbed nighttime sleep, the cause may be a poor sleeping position,” said Adam Hirst, director digital at Woolroom.
From ‘Fetus’ to ‘Soldier’, most people sleep in one of the six main positions, and some are much better for us than others.
People who sleep on their stomach with their head to one side and their arms around the pillow are classified as people in free fall (stock image)
With the average Brit sleeping between seven and nine hours each night, it’s no surprise that most of us have a favorite position.
However, there is a clear difference between a comfortable sleeping position and a healthy one.
“It’s natural to assume that if we’re comfortable in bed, we should be in the correct sleeping position,” Mr. Hirst explained.
“But in reality, when we have a bad sleeping position, we can get used to it over time, so we are led to believe that it is the best sleeping position.”
There are six main sleeping positions, which experts have nicknamed Fetus, Trunk, Soldier, Starfish, Yearning, and Free Fall.
The fetus gets its name from the baby’s position in the womb and sees the sleeper curled up in a ball while lying on his or her side.
According to a study 2019According to data from experts at Curtin University, 60 percent of adults spend most of the night in a lateral position.
If you are a log sleeper, you also lie on your side, but this time with your arms and legs extended, while Yearners sleep on their side but with their arms stretched out in front.
Sleeping on your stomach can leave you with back and neck pain the next day, experts say (file image)
People who prefer to sleep on their backs are generally classified as Soldiers (those who sleep with their arms at their sides) or Starfish, who have their arms stretched above their heads.
Finally, people who sleep on their stomach with their head to one side and their arms around the pillow are classified as free fallers.
Speaking to MailOnline, Lisa Artis, deputy chief executive of The Sleep Charity, explained that all of these positions are “fine”, except for Freefaller.
“It’s okay to sleep on your back or side, but we suggest avoiding sleeping on your stomach as it puts a lot of pressure on your neck as it is permanently twisted throughout the night,” he explained.
Martin Seeley, sleep expert at MattressNextDay, agreed that sleeping on your stomach is not possible and highlighted that sleeping on your back is not the best option for people who snore.
The fetus gets its name from the baby’s position in the womb and sees the sleeper curled up in a ball while lying on his or her side.
“Sleeping on your side is considered the best position,” he told MailOnline.
“It can help improve circulation and digestion, and also opens the airways for easier breathing, which means less chance of snoring.”
Whatever your preferred position, Ms. Artis says correct support is “crucial.”
“A good bed can make all the difference to your sleep,” he told MailOnline.
‘Did you know that your head weighs between 4.5 and 5.5 kilos (between 10 and 12 pounds) and that your neck contains seven of the 33 vertebrae of the spine?
‘Neck pain, neck stiffness, and even persistent headaches could simply be the result of poor pillow support while sleeping in bed.
‘A good pillow should keep your head in correct alignment, that is, in the same relationship to your shoulders and spine as if you were standing with correct posture.
‘One that is too soft will allow the head to drop, curving the neck. One that is too hard will cause pain in your neck.