Many couples who sleep together may experience sleepless nights for a variety of reasons, including their partner’s loud snoring, tossing and turning, or even body heat disrupting their sleep.
While the trend being called “sleep divorce” may sound like it has a negative connotation, some say it may actually help couples bond even stronger.
The idea has recently grown in popularity, with about a third of people surveyed saying they regularly sleep in separate rooms from their significant other, according to the Sleep Foundation. Couples who sleep in separate rooms may benefit from better quality sleep, fewer interruptions, and longer hours of sleep, which could improve their relationships.
Dr. Michael Bruce, a clinical psychologist working in sleep medicine, says that because sleep is so important in life, changing the way you sleep with your loved one could strengthen your bond.
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“Many people tend to think that sleeping in the same bed indicates the strength or level of intimacy of a relationship, but this couldn’t be further from the truth,” Dr Bruce said. “What people need to do is get past this idea of, ‘I have to sleep right next to this person.'”
According to a survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 33% of couples sleep separately from their partner sometimes or regularly.
Dr Breus says that if your partner’s snoring is disrupting your sleep, it’s important to take control of the quality of your sleep because it’s not necessarily the snorer that’s disrupting your sleep, it’s you.
Dr. Breus suggests couples try out what works and modify it as needed, such as sleeping separately during the week and together on weekends. This is like taking a vacation from your partner, “but only at night,” Dr. Breus says. This allows couples to arrange their room the way they like and have more control over comfort aspects like temperature, lighting, and bedding.
