Joshua Nair
You may not have heard of a 'sleep divorce' before, but experts think it could solve a number of problems with your partner.
The latest viral trend has taken social media by storm, to the point where celebrities such as Cameron Diaz have gone out of their way to endorse the method.
Research by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) revealed that 29 percent of US residents would choose to sleep apart from their partners.
It's a growing trend, and the main cause of it is the struggle to get a good night's sleep, as factors may constantly be disrupting your bedtime.
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A 'sleep divorce' is essentially when couples choose to sleep in separate bedrooms.
The hashtag 'sleepdivorce' has over one million views on TikTok.
Obviously, not everyone has the space or means to have a second available bedroom in their home, but what is also described as a 'bedtime breakup' could improve your relationship.
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Here are some signs that indicate that you might need to try a sleep divorce.
Heat is one of the biggest sleep disruptors, as Carolina Goncalves, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmica, explains: “The human body has an optimal temperature range, typically around 36.1°C to 37.2°C, for initiating and maintaining sleep.
“This range supports the body’s natural decline in core temperature, which is an important component of the sleep process.”
She further explains that when temperature rises in your surroundings, your body will struggle to dissipate heat effectively, which is crucial.
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“During sleep, particularly in the stages of deep and REM sleep, the body’s ability to regulate temperature diminishes, making it more challenging to cool down when it’s hot,” Goncalves says.
“This inability to effectively lower core temperature can lead to increased awakenings and a lighter sleep state, as the body repeatedly attempts to cool itself.”
The result of all that heat, broken sleep and discomfort in bed might push you to longing for your own space to sleep in, and a sleep divorce can give you exactly what you want.
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Long gone will be the sweaty, frustrated awakenings in the night, as sleep expert Alison Cullen says: “The additional heat provided by another body is definitely not helpful."
You can wave goodbye to the stick-one-leg-out-for-coolness technique, as with a sleep divorce you can control exactly how cold your room is, and how much of your bed you want to use.
Cullen explains: “Sleeping apart may seem like a negative step in a relationship, but if it means better sleep for either or both of the couple, the health benefits are likely to benefit their relationship too.”
Turns out that it can be a physical and mental positive to sleep apart from your partner, as she continues: “Feeling rested, restored, less achy, with fewer carb cravings and more energy is a great way to start a new phase in your connection.”
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The method is normalised in some parts of the world though, with several couples carrying it out in Scandinavia.
Another benefit is that you won't have to hear your partner snore anymore when you're struggling to sleep - arguably the biggest positive there.
If you've found that intimacy has been at an all-time low in your couple, a sleep divorce could actually be your ticket out of the rut.
It sounds like it'll do the opposite, but Goncalves has explained how it can be beneficial.
She said: "Sleeping in separate beds can provide couples with the opportunity to appreciate the intimacy of sleeping together.
"The physical distance from sleeping in separate beds may enhance longing and desire for one another, contributing to a more passionate and fulfilling relationship, and increasing how meaningful the relationship is for both individuals."
Apparently, this helps to build deeper emotional connections and improve your level of happiness in the relationship, so it might be worth a shot.