What your sleeping position reveals about you

Adults who drift off on the right side each night are more likely to be smokers and coffee drinkers. Photo / Getty Images

The position you sleep in reveals plenty about your age, your job and your hobbies and how well rested you'll be, a new survey reveals.

According to the findings, those with a university degree are most likely to sleep on their left side each night and have been dubbed "leftie loungers".

And adults who drift off on the right side each night are more likely to be smokers and coffee drinkers, the poll of 5,000 people suggests.

The heaviest drinkers are regarded as "stomach slumpers" - those who drift off while laying on their front. Utility workers struggle to stick to just one position, freestyling in a variety of different choices to fall asleep.

The report, commissioned by Sealy, a mattress manufacturer, also reveals how some positions can boost sleep quality.

It showed those who adopt the "star fish" position, spread out on their back, wake up feeling the most refreshed.

The results scuppered what researchers have pointed to for decades - that those who sleep on their sides get the best night's rest.

Laying on the left or right side, mimicking the foetal position, promotes a clear, unobstructed airway and helps the body reach deep REM sleep - which helps the body repair overnight.

Yet, experts recommend sleeping on the back as it allows the body to rest, preventing any pain or discomfort during the night or in the morning.

However, instances of snoring and sleep apnea are much more frequent when a person is sleeping on their back - which can leave them feeling unrested in the morning.

Neil Robinson, marketing director at Sealy, told MailOnline: "We know that certain sleep positions promote a good night's rest; laying on your left or right side for example, and that's perhaps why these are the nation's favourite.

"So it's therefore surprising to see so-called 'star-fish' sleepers reporting the highest levels of waking up feeling refreshed and well-rested when compared with any other position.

"It is also fascinating to see the associated demographics linked to each sleep position, and we would love to know if this really rings true with lefties, righties, slumpers, star fish and freestylers up and down the country."

WHAT DOES YOUR SLEEPING POSITION SAY ABOUT YOU?

LEFTIE LOUNGER

It's the most popular sleeping position in the country, with 36 per cent of people saying they prefer to sleep on this side.

Some 41 per cent of "lefties" work in marketing or advertising, while 37 per cent are council workers or NHS staff.

They are most likely to fall within the 45-54 age bracket, with 25 per cent being between those ages.

And a quarter of those who are keen on falling asleep in this position have a university degree, the poll showed.

Some 23 per cent of the so-called leftie loungers report frequently getting a good night's rest.

RIGHT SIDE RELAXER

This position is adopted by 34 per cent of people, according to the poll.

They are most likely to work in transport or manufacturing, with 15 per cent based in either industry.

One in five were in the 35-44 age bracket.

Around 7 per cent are heavy smokers, who go through a pack of 20 each day. And they're probably fans of coffee, with one in ten saying they were.

Right side relaxers get a slightly worse rest than their leftie counterparts, the poll showed. Only 22 per cent wake up feeling refreshed in this position.

STOMACH SLUMPER

An eighth of people sleep on their fronts each night. Most were between the ages of 45 and 54.

Some five per cent of respondents worked in the agricultural and fishing industries - the most popular job for these sleepers.

Those who reported falling asleep with their face buried into the pillow also happened to be the heaviest drinkers.

One in ten said they consumed between seven and 10 units of alcohol each day - the equivalent of between three and four pints of beer.

This was deemed the most uncomfortable sleeping method. Only 21.5 per cent are able to get a good night's sleep slumped on their front.

FREESTYLER

Around one in ten of the population can't make their mind up how they want to sleep at night.

Known as "freestylers", they are most likely to work in utilities. Some 6 per cent were shown to work in energy or water-based jobs.

Those who chop and change their position of rest during the night are often between the ages of 35 and 44. Four fifths were also female.

A quarter of those who used this position to get to sleep say they regularly wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested.

STAR FISH

It's the least popular sleeping position, often adopted by singletons who don't have to share a bed with their partner.

Some 9 per cent reported sleeping on their back with their arms and legs pointed wide, like that of a star fish.

They were most likely to work in transport and logistics, as 6 per cent reported earning an income from either industry.

It also appears to be the go-to position for the 25 to 34 age range, with 16 per cent stating this was their preferred choice.

Just under a third of adults who adopted the "star fish" say it allows them to have a good night's rest - making it the best position.