Sleeping separately has been credited with saving some relationships.Photo: STOCK4B GMBH
It may sound counterintuitive, but sleeping in separate rooms is increasingly recognized as a way to maintain harmony in relationships. Sleep is vital for health, and sharing a bed can be challenging when partners have different sleep habits.
According to new research from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 21% of adults in the US sleep apart from their partners, with the number rising to 26% among those aged 25-34.
Dan Ford, clinical director of the Better Sleep Clinic in New Zealand, notes that younger couples are more likely to embrace this arrangement. “If you’re choosing that arrangement because you both decide you sleep better that way, there’s not really that stigma that the relationship has cooled,” he explains.
Woman sleeping in bed.Photo: 123RF
While some couples choose to sleep separately, others find it necessary due to sleep disorders. Ford states, “Clinically, we work with some people who literally cannot sleep next to someone else.” This variability highlights the subjective nature of sleep preferences.
Interestingly, the concept of sleep divorce is not new. In cultures such as Japan and Scandinavia, separate sleeping arrangements have long been accepted. In fact, this practice became common in Western societies during the Victorian era.
Ford suggests that instead of labeling it as ‘sleep divorce’, couples could refer to their separate spaces as ‘sleep sanctuaries’. This shift in terminology may help reduce any stigma associated with sleeping apart.
Man sleeping and turning off alarm clockPhoto: 123RF
Ford emphasizes that couples can still enjoy quality time together while maintaining separate sleeping arrangements. “It’s always good to negotiate what you want to do as a couple,” he advises. This approach can enhance intimacy and overall relationship satisfaction.
Ultimately, sleep divorce can be a temporary solution. Couples can experiment with separate sleeping and revert to sharing a bed if it doesn’t work out. For many, this arrangement leads to better sleep and more fulfilling time together when awake, potentially saving their relationship.
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