Sleep Better Together

Quick Win

Separate quarters aren’t the only answer. Talk with your sweetie and consider these steps for more tranquil bed-sharing.

Try This Today

• Confer, don’t criticize. Start a conversation about your partner’s habits that are interrupting your sleep. Be open to receiving feedback about your patterns, too.
• Tackle snoring. Earplugs and white noise can muffle snoring sounds. Side-sleeping and sleeping with the head slightly elevated may reduce snoring for some people.  Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, so encourage your spouse to see a sleep specialist for an evaluation. 
• Go Scandinavian. No, we’re not suggesting you ship your partner off to a Nordic country! The practice of using separate covers, a common custom in Scandinavia, can reduce how much bedmates feel each other’s movements. It also allows for personalized temperature control. Bonus: No more blanket stealing.

Why

Sleep research on bed-sharing among couples shows conflicting findings. People perceive that their sleep quality is better when sharing a bed, and research suggests that sleeping with a partner may increase memory-building rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. But studies also show that bed-sharing increases awakenings, especially for women, according to an article published in Sleep Health in 2021. We know that quality sleep is essential for good health, and you can “have your cake and eat it too” by finding ways to reduce disruptions while still enjoying the comfort of sleeping with your sweethear