Do You Sleep Back-To-Back With Your Partner? Here's What It Says About Your Relationship

Spooning V Starfish: What Your Sleeping Position Says About Your Relationship
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If you're worried that you and your partner sleeping back-to-back, on opposite ends of the bed, could signify some deeper troubles within your relationship then fear not. It's actually a positive sign.

In fact, the 'Liberty' (or back-to-back) sleeping position also happens to be the most common among couples, with 28% adopting the pose.

Relationship psychologist Corinne Sweet says that this position suggests couples are connected and secure in themselves, adding that it "shows closeness and independence in the relationship". Who knew?

In second place on the sleeping position popularity charts - compiled by Dreams - is Cherish, when you and your partner snooze with your backs touching. This is often common in new relationships and suggests that both partners are relaxed and comfortable with one another.

For avid spooners, this sleeping position comes in third place and means that one partner is more protective over the other.

Meanwhile Lover's Knot, which involves lying face-to-face with your legs intertwined, signifies a compromise between intimacy and independence.

For couples who sleep facing one another without touching, this suggests an underlying need for intimacy and close communication.

Meanwhile those who lie face-to-face with their legs intertwined are "romantic and very intimate" but also lacking in independence.

If one of you enjoys hogging all of the space (usually indulging in starfish position) while your partner is left teetering on the edge, then this suggests that one partner is more domineering.

And finally, the sleeping position we see in all of the old movies. For those who sleep with their head on their partner's chest, this represents vibrant, passionate or rekindled love. In our eyes, it also represents neck ache.

Tips to help you sleep better

Regardless of what position you sleep in, if you struggle to get some shut-eye because of your partner's annoying sleep habits (or perhaps they get up earlier than you do), then it's certainly worth trying some of these:

:: Never go to sleep after having an argument. De-stress with a warm bath, quiet music or even yoga.

:: Try to compromise on your sleep schedule, especially if one of you is a night owl and the other an early riser.

:: If you snore, then avoid sleeping on your back. This could save your partner a lot of disrupted sleep. Additionally, visit a doctor if the issue becomes serious as it can be a sign of health problems.

:: Avoid caffeine before bed.

:: Try sleeping naked. Skin-to-skin contact can boost the production of oxytocin, also known as the ‘love hormone’, which can combat stress and high blood pressure, as well as making you feel closer to your partner.

:: And if none of that works then Dr Sarah Brewer suggests sleeping in separate beds. Approximately 50% of sleep disturbance is caused by a person’s partner, and one third of married couples admit to sleeping better alone.

She adds that partners can still find time to be close and intimate, but may benefit from moving to a separate bed or bedroom at the point of turning out the light to sleep – and it could even make the relationship stronger.

What Your Sleeping Position Says About Your Personality

What Your Sleep Position Reveals About You

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