How you sleep reflects how you feel - expert

Sleeping on your stomach can indicate you're not in control of your life.Photo / Thinkstock

People who sleep flat on their stomach with their body outstretched feel like they're not in control of their life; those who sleep in the foetal position tend to worry unnecessarily; sleeping with your arms outstretched indicates you want more from life; and people who sleep straight like a log can seem bossy, according to a UK body language expert.

Robert Phipps says the body language we use when sleeping can tell us a lot about how we're feeling at the time, and it can affect the day ahead from the moment we wake up.

Foetal sleeping is the most common position, and people who sleep like this are returning to their comfort zone to de-stress themselves from the day's activities, he told the Daily Mail.

The higher the knees and lower the head the more internal comfort you give yourself.

"Foetal sleepers are conscientious, ordered and like things in their place, but they can over-think things and worry unnecessarily.''

The Log is the second most common sleep position - fully extended with head, neck, arms, legs and body all stretched out in a straight line.

"The longer you sleep like this the more rigid your thinking, you can become inflexible making things harder for yourself.

"Loggers are set in their ways and can be stubborn, liking things done their way, which can make them come across as bossy or even aloof.''

Third most common is the Yearner with arms outstretched as though you are chasing your dreams, conversely it can mean you are being chased.

"You feel you want more from life and are willing to go out there and get it with both hands, ready to capture every new and exciting challenge that comes your way.''

Yearners are their own worst critics, always expecting great results in everything they do, which can mean giving up to quickly with things that don't go their way right from the start.

Freefalling is the least popular and least comfortable of the four sleep positions with the whole body outstretched flat on their stomach, arms at right angles, hands gripping the pillow as though holding on for dear life.

"Freefallers tend to feel like life happens around them and they are just hanging on for the ride, which can make them feel like they're not in control of what happens,'' Phipps said.

They can wake up feeling like they still have things leftover from the previous day, which can make them feel over-anxious about getting things done today.

Phipps said his research, conducted for hotel chain Premier Inn, "wasn't meant to be taken absolutely seriously''.