When it comes to relationships—especially once two people start living together—there are a lot of things we have to take into consideration, like showering schedules, dietary needs, and who will take out the rubbish. Yet one thing that experts are saying could make a huge difference is how and where couples sleep.
A ‘sleep divorce’ is when a couple mutually decides to sleep in separate beds or even rooms. While this may sound like the beginning of the end, experts and practitioners agree that there are plenty of benefits to the so-called trend and could actually make relationships stronger and improve intimacy.
According to Rana Ali, M.D., a sleep medicine specialist from the US, people nowadays are getting less quality sleep than ever before, especially due to the introduction of technology to the bedroom. Moreover, when it comes to sleeping, different people have different needs, be it the preferred room temperature, the mattress’s hardness, or the bed space they occupy.
By opting for a sleep divorce, couples can guarantee each other better sleep by not affecting each other’s sleeping schedule, not accidentally waking each other up when snoring or tossing and turning, and not disrupting sleep by having someone else’s alarm go off.
For a sleep divorce to work properly, however, Dr Ali reminds people that communication is key. In other words, it’s crucial that both parties understand why they are sleeping in separate beds: this isn’t a way of getting away from your partner, but a way to get better sleep. Given that you both understand the reasons behind it, it could actually help improve your sleep, your mental health, and even your intimacy.
