Sleeping in Separate Beds Might be the Best Move for Your Relationship – and More Common Than You Think

Snoring, restless legs, blanket stealing and bed hogging is robbing precious hours of sleep from many Australian couples. Your romantic partner may be your favourite person to spend the day with, but still make for a terrible bedfellow. And although sharing a bed is supposed to build relational intimacy, for couples who are not sleeping well together it can build bitterness and resentment.

So what should couples struggling to sleep in the same bed do? Many couples have found that the best solution is not ear plugs, or a giant king sized bed, but separate beds and/or rooms altogether. You may balk at the idea, but experts say that around 17% of Australian couples living together sleep separately – and it really doesn’t signal a relationship on the rocks. In fact, for couples struggling with sleep, it can help them to be more positive and patient and less cranky. Sleeping separately allows you to tailor your bedtime routine to your needs, without worrying about your partner. If you communicate clearly, and create other times for intimacy, sleeping separately could be the best move for your relationship.

However, if you are worried that you or your partner may be suffering from a deeper issue with sleep, it is important to speak to your doctor or sleep physician to get to the root of the issue.