Everyone needs a good night's sleep to function properly and feel their best. Consistently poor sleep can have a profound impact on physical health, mental well-being, mood, relationships and even job performance. So what do you do when the source of your sleep problems is your significant other? Sleep divorce, an increasingly popular trend where couples sleep separately, is the answer for many pairs.
What Is Sleep Divorce?
Sleep divorce refers to a couple who lives together, but chooses to sleep in separate beds 1 or in different rooms to improve their quality of sleep. Deciding not to share a bed each night can have a positive impact on both health and the state of the relationship.
Choosing to try a sleep divorce isn’t a sign of a strained relationship, and it doesn’t have to lead to any negative outcomes. Couples who recognize that a problem exists and take action by talking it through and adjusting their sleeping arrangements can benefit their relationship, as this type of open and honest communication can strengthen the bond between two people.
Why People Choose Sleep Divorce
A study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2 discovered that nearly one-third of American couples opt for sleep divorce. Common reasons that Americans choose sleep divorce are to avoid nighttime disturbances and get more rest. Loud snoring, or more serious sleep disorders that require the use of loud sleep equipment are some of the biggest reasons couples choose to sleep apart. Top reasons couples try sleep divorce include:
- Snoring
- Insomnia
- Tossing and turning
- Kicking
- Hot sleepers
- Stealing the covers
Sleeping separately can ultimately improve a relationship. Couples can always change up their arrangement to enjoy time together in bed on the weekends and days when they have a more flexible schedule and fewer demands on their time.
How Sleep Divorce Can Benefit Health
Poor sleep is more than just a nuisance. Not getting adequate rest increases the risk of dementia, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other health conditions. The trend of sleep divorce now has celebrity advocates like Cameron Diaz 3 praising the practice to help couples get better sleep for greater well-being and relationship satisfaction. Benefits of a sleep divorce include:
- Fewer interruptions from snoring, movement, illness, or sleep equipment to treat sleep disorders.
- Better sleep quality.
- Getting more sleep each night.
- Improved relationship.
Sometimes, couples simply have different sleeping schedules, mattress preferences, or one prefers a cooler sleep temperature while the other likes it warmer. Addressing these concerns and prioritizing good sleep for you both can have real effects on your physical and mental health.
Potential Drawbacks of Sleep Divorce
Sleep divorce can contribute to diminishing intimacy in a relationship if one or both people prefer to cuddle at night. Another disadvantage is the cost of setting up an additional bedroom if the couple doesn't already have one available. These challenges are often easily navigated when the couple makes an effort to communicate their concerns. You can also consider possible alternatives, like changing up your sleep schedule, using earplugs or a sounds machine, or using separate bedding.
It's important to note that some sleep disturbances have underlying medical causes. Snorers and anyone who feels consistently tired throughout the day should get screened for a sleep disorder. If you determine that a sleep divorce is right for you and your partner, the change to your sleeping arrangements can lead to better sleep quality, a more satisfying relationship, and overall improved wellbeing.
References:
- Sleepfoundation.org - What Is a Sleep Divorce?
- AASM.com - Over a third of Americans opt for a "sleep divorce."
- CNN.com Cameron Diaz - "We Should Normalize Separate Bedrooms."
