Rest assured: How the way we sleep affects our waking hours

The optimal sleep position is on your left side, with a pillow between your legs and your head slightly forward. But once you nod off, your body will nearly always find the most comfortable position

More than 50% of people sleep on their sides, while only 7% rest on their front. Picture: iStock

The average person spends a third of their life, or 26 years, asleep. We also spend seven years of our life trying to get to sleep. 

Some people will have busy minds and may struggle to switch off enough to get to sleep, while others will struggle to find a comfortable position to fall asleep.