Bedside Manners

[jamesq]

While lying in bed last night I realized that I only use half my bed and that for most of my adult life, I've used the same side. This leads to me rotating the mattress every few months to keep the wear even. I even arrange new rooms (or my tent/cot combo while camping) to follow the same pattern. About the only time I don't follow it is if I'm sharing a hotel room - then I'll usually want the bed closest to the door and I'll use the side of the bed farthest from my roommate.

So I thought I'd see if there was any pattern to this - i.e. if we pick up how our parents sleep and unconsciously mimic it. It's a crackpot hypothesis, but that's what LJ polls are for!

Answer honestly - don't use that one time in 1997 when you slept on the left side of the bed to suggest that you use both sides evenly. I'm interested in preferences, not examples of OCD.

[Poll #1659732]

Comments

[hislittlekitty.livejournal.com]

In my own home, I end up sleeping on the right side of the bed- beside the wall (which is an inside wall). In random rooms (vacation, etc) I pick whatever sleeping spot is farther from an outside wall because I get cold so easily. If there is no outside wall, I'm normally on the right side of the bed.(I do like to be beside an inside wall, but in hotels and such the bed is normally in the middle of the room.)

For years and year I remember that my mom slept on the right side, facing out. Recently I have learned that was because sleeping on her other side made her heartburn worse, and facing out meant she could easily grab her glass of water, glasses, etc off the nightstand.

[ya-inga.livejournal.com]

I used to sleep on the right side when I was young but that was cause I hate sleeping right next to a wall

As an adult though I have always had a preference for sleeping on the left side frankly because every partner I have had seems to prefer the opposite and now after years of coupleness can't really sleep on the other comfortably. The funny thing is that I accordingly now sleep on the same side as my mum did.

So if all the boys I have shared sleeping space sleep on the other side - does that mean that there is some gender thinger going on here?

Interesting

[jamesq]

Left side as a kid, right side as an adult. This seemed to depend on room layout until I was out of my parents house, when it "set".

I don't have nearly enough data to start assigning reasons, but that's never stopped me before. Perhaps cavemen wanted their primary arm away their mates so that they can cuddle and club away rivals simultaneously.

[ishansonofbrand.livejournal.com]

My father would sleep on the left. I slept on the right when I was with my last two partners. I sleep on the left mostly now because it is near the closest and the door. When I slept with nerissa at coronet I was on the left. When I slept with jean at a brooks even many years ago I Was on the left as well. [EDIT: When I say sleep I should clarify to say I shared the bed. We slept together in the complete Victorian meaning of the word. IE we could have had razor wire between us and neither would have gotten hurt. ]

I am generally indifferent. Though I like being on the right but that was mostly do my back issues. Ie, it was easier to snuggle when I was on my right hand side. I don't know if that still holds true.

It is an interesting thought though.

[jamesq]

Yes yes yes, I understand that you have no carnal knowledge of your house sisters. Don't worry, to my knowledge Blue doesn't read my blog.

[ishansonofbrand.livejournal.com]

That was far before they were dating, and before I was dating kaja as well. :-)

While being the brat of the house I am also sweet and innocent. Ask anyone! er... wait. Don't ask anyone, just trust me. :-D

[oblivions.livejournal.com]

Keep believing... ;P

[ishansonofbrand.livejournal.com]

er.... I think I need better a PR agent. hhhmmmmm....

[jamesq]

Don't do your own PR; Like being your own lawyer, it's just not a wise idea.

You can still blow your own horn though, provided you're limber enough.

[thebrucie.livejournal.com]

I usually slleep on the right side of the bed, on my right side, mainly because I find I breathe easier lying that way. So that's really my sleeping pattern, rather than what side of the bed.

[mallt.livejournal.com]

I sleep the furthest away from the doors (bathroom & bedroom). K often stays up later than me which means navigating the bedroom in the dark... I have to walk around to my side but he has a clear run. When we moved house that meant switching sides, we seem to have done so without much trouble.

[wendy-licious.livejournal.com]

I don't like to sleep against a wall. At home this isn't an issue and I sleep on the left. If we're at a hotel or staying with someone, we'll change that so I can be on the outside.

[minyata.livejournal.com]

When I was sharing a bed at home, I would sleep left side of the bed. I am not really sure how we came to that arrangement, but it did get to the point that even when he wasn't in bed I was cuddled up to my side of the bed.

Now I sprawl all over the place. I literally take up the entire double bed I have at home.

[othelianna.livejournal.com]

I sleep right in the damned middle. If I have a...sleeping partner, I generally push (albeit gently) for the left side of the bed.

[danceintheabyss.livejournal.com]

For me it depends entirely on how I've rearranged my room. IE when hubby was still here and bed was in middle fo the room he had to sleep on the left so I slept on the right... I rearranged the bedroom so now the right is against the wall so I sleep on the left. Before hubby it was the farthest side from the door.... cause doors at night creep me out, especially when they are open. So.... no preference really. just whatever tickles my fancy at any given time.