Don’t you love how movies and mattress commercials make it look like every couple who shares a bed somehow wakes up rested and still so happy together? Is this for real? No way! Let’s get out of the land of make-believe and take a peek at reality! See if these phrases sound a little more familiar:
- “Do you have to breathe so loud when you sleep?”
- “Did you even come to the bedroom last night?”
- “Stop taking all the damn blankets!”
- “I never even heard you leave the bedroom this morning.”
- “But my freezing feet get warm so much quicker when I put them on you. You’re so warm!”
Yeah, that’s more like it. We can be connected on so many planes with our partners, but everyone's sleep needs are different. Some people are naturally night owls, while others are early birds. This means that one partner may be ready for bed at 9 pm, while the other may not feel sleepy until 1 in the morning. This difference in sleep needs can make it challenging to share a bed without resenting one another in the light of day.
Don’t let chronic exhaustion crumble an otherwise great romance – there are ways to better align your sleep patterns and improve quality of sleep. One solution is to establish a bedtime routine that works for both of you. You could also try turning off screens (TVs, phones, laptops, etc.) an hour or two before bed as the blue light from screens can interfere with sleep.
Screens aren’t the only distraction that can make it tough to sync up your sleep patterns. Another factor that can affect sleep is the environment. Make sure your bedroom is conducive to sleep. This means it should be quiet, cool, and dark. If you and your partner are more comfortable in separate temperature zones, add a spare throw blanket to the foot of the bed so that it can be pulled over the one who wants another layer without adding more heat to the person who doesn’t want it. Bedding preferences may look different on each side of the mattress. You don’t have to sleep with the same pillows under your heads – you may sleep with 1 pillow while the other side of the bed is littered with cushiony softness. That’s ok – just make sure that you both have enough room for the bedding that best suits your comforts.
If you're still struggling to fall asleep, you may want to consider using white noise machines, earplugs, or a sleep pray. Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is proven to improve the quality of sleep and has helped users awake refreshed and rejuvenated without resorting to any OTC or prescription medications.
Remember that sleep is crucial to our mental and physical health and the well-being of the people we live and work with. If you or your partner are consistently struggling to get needed sleep, it can affect mood, energy levels, and overall quality of life for the sleep deprived and the rest of the household. Whether it’s you getting short changed in the sleep department or your partner, the negative impacts of a lack of sleep are felt by everyone in the house to some extent. By working together with your partner and making some changes to your sleep habits, you can both get the restful sleep you need.