Troxel, who prefers the phrase “sleep alliance.”) This idea that separate beds are some sort of death knell, the precursor to divorce or a sign of a sexless marriage, may be keeping couples that would benefit from a different sleeping arrangement from giving it a shot. But some of it may have to do with the stigma that’s still attached to sleeping apart (as evidenced by the term “sleep divorce,” says Dr. That may be because we prioritize cuddling or enjoy that feeling of closeness and security that can come with sleeping alongside a significant other, even if it means sacrificing a quality eight hours of rest. ( Especially if you’re sharing a bed with someone who snores.) Most of these studies measure how much participants move when sleeping alone versus sleeping with their partners, and have found that people toss and turn less when they don’t have to share a bed.īut most of us still choose to sleep alongside the person we love.
Research has shown that we do actually sleep better alone, Dr. What are the benefits of sleeping separately? She points to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders, which found that the preference for dual master bedrooms rose from 25 percent of prospective buyers in 2003 to 40 percent in 2018. More and more, couples seem to be entertaining the idea, Wendy Troxel, Ph.D., a sleep researcher and the author of Sharing the Covers, tells KCM.
Does your partner snore? Toss and turn? Hog the covers? Well, if that’s keeping you from getting a good night’s rest, maybe it’s time to consider sleeping apart.