20 Mind Blowing Facts About Sleep

16. About 41% of population sleep in the foetal position.

The next most common sleeping position is called the Log, with 15% of people studied preferring it, followed by the Yearner position with 13%, the Soldier position with 8%, the Freefall position with 7% and the Starfish with 5%. Although health experts have differing opinions about which sleep position is best for resting your body and getting a good night sleep, with most agreeing that the most beneficial is flat on the back.

17. Sleeping positions have been discovered to have a direct link to one’s personalities.

There are suggestions that the position that you most often sleep in can say something about who you are as a person. So the 41% of people who choose the Foetus position are tough on the outside, with a gooey sensitive centre, while those who prefer the Log are social and easy going, but often considered gullible. Maybe falling asleep says more about you than you thought.

18. According to experts, counting sheep doesn’t work.

According to an Oxford University research study and findings published in “Behaviour Research and Therapy,” counting sheep makes no difference at all in helping you fall asleep. Whether you count yourself to sleep or not, you will take around the same time to get to sleep, and sleep for just as long. If they’d just asked us what helped we could have told them that visualizing a serene beach and a piña colada in hand worked just fine!

19. Exercise can help you sleep better

Exercise provides so many benefits to the body, even when we aren’t awake to enjoy them. Studies show that a person who spends 2.5  hours a week doing physical activity will have a much improved quality of sleep. They will also lower their chances of feeling sleepy during the day. So if you find it difficult to get to sleep at night, perhaps a new fitness habit is what you need.

20. People who don’t get enough sleep are likely to have bigger appetites

Sleep isn’t just good for the mind, it’s good for the body. In fact, studies have shown that people with chronic sleep deprivation or an irregular sleep pattern have larger appetites and are more prone to giving into their bad food cravings. Sleep is directly connected to how your body processes hunger messages, and a lack of sleep really messes with the system.

We might take sleep for granted, but as you probably know now there are more reasons than ever to tuck ourselves in and get some much-needed shut eye.

Do you get enough sleep at night? Share us some of your thoughts.