Many couples struggle with getting enough quality sleep. There are many factors that affect your sleep, but often for couples, difficulty sleeping is often a result of two people who are used to sleeping at different times, temperatures, or conditions learning to co-sleep.
These problems are fairly common. In fact, 12% of married couples sleep alone. On top of that, sleep is related to marital satisfaction—so this is not only an issue of convenience and health, but of happiness in your relationship. Keeping that in mind, here are some tips for getting better sleep as a couple.
Mattress Woes
A common complaint with couples is that they’re accustomed to different levels of firmness in a mattress. And this isn’t a problem that can be easily solved by compromise on the part of one partner or the other, as using a mattress with the wrong firmness level for your sleep position and health conditions can cause health issues.
But there is a simple solution. Couples who need different levels of firmness in their mattress can get a high-quality, dual-zone split-side firmness mattress that can be customized for each partner’s tastes. With such a custom luxury mattress, you and your partner will both be able to sleep on a mattress designed for your body’s comfort and sleep much more soundly.
Solutions for Blanket Hogs
If you or your partner are guilty of regularly stealing or hogging the blanket, that’s another problem that can keep you up at night.
However, if you get creative, there are simple solutions for this problem as well. You can buy a “cover clamp,” stopping your partner from stealing more than their share of the covers by pinning your sheets down. Another suggested solution is buying an oversized blanket so you don’t run out of blanket even when they’re reeling their side in; or, you could just use separate comforters at night to eliminate the problem of sharing altogether.
Too Hot or Too Cold
As a general rule, men’s bodies rest at a warmer temperature than women’s due to the difference in metabolic rates. This can cause thermostat wars and restless sleep for all, as one partner will always be uncomfortable.
A simple way to resolve this problem is to use a split-side blanket, which will allow for one half to remain warm and the other cold, so that both individuals rest at the right temperature. Or, again, the simple solution of using separate bedding can achieve the same thing.
Snoring
Snoring may be the most common complaint couples have in trying to sleep. One invention that could potentially solve this problem is a smart snore-blocking pillow. One of these pillows or pillow inserts detects when you begin snoring and gently moves your head, stimulating your throat muscles and stopping your snore.
Or, for a more traditional fix, you can wear earplugs at night; there are even some that are specially designed to block out snores. You can try using decongestants for the snorer, to help with the problem at its root.
Waking Up at Different Times
More than half of people admit to habitually hitting the snooze button, and one in five sets at least two alarms to wake up to. With multiple alarms going off and potentially different wake-up times, this can become a problem for couples.
With different schedules, you likely want to try and organize things so that one of you can wake up without disturbing the other. This can be achieved with the use of a vibrating pillow alarm clock. Where a traditional one might wake up your partner, too, a vibrating one will gently wake one person up while allowing the other to continue sleeping.
As you can see, all it takes is a little creativity to help both you and your partner get the sleep necessary for your health and well-being. Try these tips for a better night’s sleep with your partner!