People who sleep on their left side tend to be in professional careers and are often between the ages of 45 and 54. Right-side sleepers are more likely to include individuals who consume coffee or nicotine and work physically demanding jobs. Stomach sleepers often correlate with high-stress lifestyles or disrupted sleep habits. Those who favor the starfish position are frequently independent, self-directed individuals with high morning energy. Meanwhile, “free-form” sleepers—those who frequently change positions—are often women in service-related fields and may experience lighter, more restless sleep.
Sleep Quality Rankings by Position
In a national sleep habits survey involving 5,000 participants, here’s how people ranked the refreshment level of their sleep based on position:
Starfish (back, arms and legs spread): 30% felt most refreshed
Free-form sleepers: 25%
Left-side sleepers: 23%
Right-side sleepers: 22%
Stomach sleepers: 21.5%
These percentages suggest that while personal comfort varies, some positions may support a deeper rest cycle more effectively.
