Sharing your sleeping space can often seem beyond difficult. Sleep issues like snoring, restlessness, irregular body temperature, and unmatched sleep styles can result in big issues. There may even be some fun things, like intimacy or endless conversation, that disrupt peaceful sleep while sharing a bed. How can you overcome these issues?
Sharing a Bed Difficulties
Snoring
A study done by the University of Utah found 40% of men snore, while 24% of women are snorers. Snoring is the most common disruption of sleep for partners, but it might be a sign of a severe health issue like sleep apnea or allergies. Snoring affects your partner’s sleep and the person who snores may suffer from daytime sleepiness, headaches, and deprived sleep throughout the day.
Differing Temperature Preferences
The ideal temperature for sleeping is between 68 and 72 degrees. Some people are warm sleepers and generate heat while they’re asleep. Other people tend to freeze at night and need layers to keep them warm. The best solution is to adjust your sleep attire, wear something warmer if 68 degrees is too chilly to sleep comfortably.
The TUCKER’D TOEBEE can help mixed temperature couples enjoy their personal level of warmth without disrupting their partner’s temperature.
Opposite Sleep Schedules
Sharing a bed can be even more difficult when one partner is an early bird and the other is a night owl. Martin Reed, a certified sleep health expert, states that one should always stick to their sleep cycle. Our sleep cycle is controlled by our body’s natural rhythm so it is not beneficial to alter our sleep cycle when sharing a bed. Stick with your body’s natural rhythm to avoid insomnia, frustration, and restlessness.
Uninvited Guests
It’s one thing to share your bed with another person (your partner) but it adds another layer of difficulty when your children start sneaking into your bed. Sleeping with a child breaks your regular sleep cycle which can lead to restlessness. Children should also develop healthy sleep schedules so they don't disrupt your sleep cycle.
Tips for Sharing a Bed
Bigger Mattress
A larger, motion-isolation mattress can make a big difference. Getting a few more inches of distance can help partners who sleep on opposite schedules, have frequent movement, or even snoring. If one partner goes to bed later than the other then a bigger bed can reduce movement. A bigger bed can also help if unwanted visitors get into your bed like kids or pets.
Bed Placement
No one enjoys having to climb over another person to get into bed. When the bed is in the middle of the room it allows for each person to get into and out of bed without disturbing the other.
Snoring Solutions
Snoring can be a sign of a medical condition, such as obstructive sleep apnea or allergies. Snoring makes sleep difficult for the snorer and their partner, leaving them with daytime sleepiness, headaches, and various other consequences of sleep loss or deprivation. If there isn’t a larger medical issue at hand, there are over-the-counter solutions to help alleviate the issue. Other solutions for snowing are pillows, sleep positioners, mouth guards, breathing strips, using a humidifier and saline nasal spray. Other options are side-sleeping and elevating the head of the bed. Partners of snorers can try and go to bed before their snoring partners to avoid trying to fall asleep in the midst of snoring.
Sleep Schedules
Unfortunately there is little people can do to control their sleep cycle. Every person has their own “Chronotype” which is the body rhythm that controls your internal clock, telling you when to wake up and when to make your body ready for bed. Chronotypes change as we get older but it’s important to pay attention to it at every stage otherwise you often end up with insomnia. Using dim light exposure in the evening and bright light exposure in the morning can help move your asleep and awake times earlier.
Some couples may never find peace while they’re sharing their sleeping space. Working together to create calmer environment for your bedroom may help both sleepers.
Sources
https://www.dreamcloudsleep.com/posts/sharing-a-bed/
https://edit.sundayriley.com/how-to-share-bed-with-partner/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/a27354519/sharing-a-bed-couple-tips/