WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER: Is It Time to Consider a 'Sleep Divorce'?

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Do you need a “sleep divorce“? Or, really, more like a “sleep separation“?

More couples are looking for homes with his and hers bedrooms, lately. And it’s because they get better sleep when they’re not sleeping together.

How could it be, that sleeping apart can keep you together?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, over 25% of married couples now sleep in separate beds. And the National Association of Home Builders says 60% of custom homes now built have dual master bedrooms.

But, did you know that sharing a bed hasn’t always been a “thing”? Generations ago, it was considered healthier to sleep apart because of a partner’s foul smells! According to psychologist Dr. Wendy Troxel’s book, “Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep,” bad morning breath was actually once thought to be a source of disease. Oddly enough, it can indicate health problems, though.

It wasn’t until the 1960s, when the opinion became popular that sleeping in separate beds was thought to be “a sign of a loveless marriage.”

But Dr. Troxel says a “sleep divorce” could be a smart move. That’s because men are more likely than women to have sleep disorders, including snoring and sleep apnea.

And when you combine that with the fact that women tend to be lighter sleepers, Dr. Troxel says this means MARRIED women are – statistically – the most likely to suffer from insomnia.

And studies show that, when women are tired, they’re more likely to argue with their loved ones.

So, a sleep divorce might improve your sleep health, and the health of your relationship.

Sleeping farther apart may actually keep you closer.

U.S. News & World Report recently surveyed U.S. adults about their quality of sleep, sleep habits, and sleep product preferences just in time for National Sleep Comfort Month this month.

Here’s a preview of some of the survey report’s findings:

1 in 3 Americans (33%) prefer sleeping in separate beds from their partner — what’s referred to as “sleep divorce.”
While most Americans (59%) prefer sharing a comforter with their partner at night, nearly half (41%) prefer sleeping with their own blanket or duvet — what’s referred to as the “Scandinavian Sleeping Method.”
39% listen to white noise in an effort to help them rest.
Americans’ top 5 worries at bedtime include: 1) cost-of-living, 2) COVID-19, 3) gun violence in America, 4) climate change, and 5) the 2024 presidential election.
You can read the full findings here