Latest news with #sleepdivorce
Khaleej Times
04-07-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Could 'sleep divorce' save your relationship?
Although untraditional, some couples opt to sleep separately to preserve both rest and emotional wellbeing. On social media, some internet couples have posted their sleeping arrangements for their fans to see, only to be met with mixed reactions. Also known as 'sleep divorce', this concept refers to couples who choose to sleep in separate bedrooms not because of resentment, but due to what doctors see as a practical solution to poor sleep. 'Sleep disruptions like loud snoring, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, and mismatched sleep schedules are common triggers [of separate sleeping],' Dr Nidhi Kumar, a specialist psychiatrist at Aster Clinic, told Khaleej Times. Over time, this can fester irritability and miscommunication. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 'Rather than a sign of relationship trouble, many couples now view separate sleeping arrangements as a proactive step toward preserving both rest and emotional wellbeing,' he said. According to him, sleeping separately is a sign of 'maturity' because it involves couples mutually agreeing to it for their own benefits. 'However, it's important that the decision is made through open communication and mutual agreement,' he said. 'If avoidance or emotional distance is also present, it may signal deeper concerns.' Specialist Internal Medicine Dr Princy John Purathan said couples sleeping separately can still nurture intimacy while getting quality rest. 'Couples can try winding down together, maintaining bedtime rituals like cuddling or conversation before sleeping separately,' she said. She recommends separate sleeping, whether long-term of temporary, for couples who have sleep conditions like chronic insomnia, restless leg syndrome, obstructive sleep apnoea, and frequent nocturia. She said for those conditions, which can significantly disrupt a partner's sleep, can be 'medically advisable.' 'The key is open dialogue and mutual respect,' Purathan said. 'Better sleep supports better mood, energy, and overall relationship satisfaction, so it's not about choosing one over the other.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Our snoring room is the key to marriage preservation' – 3 women reveal how creating separate sleeping spaces has delivered marital harmony
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Snoring rooms first entered the public consciousness about 15 years ago when it was widely reported that Tom Cruise had converted a spare bedroom in his sprawling Beverley Hills home into a 'snoratorium.' Fast forward to 2025 and many high-end architects now consider snoring rooms – a second master bedroom where disgruntled spouses can retreat when their partner's nocturnal racket becomes overwhelming – a must-have for couples with enough space. For London-based Interior designer Pia Pelkonen, it's a relatively common request. 'Snoring rooms have quietly cropped up in the design process more and more over the past few years – often as a part of a wider brief for a calm, grown-up home," she says. "Clients tend to mention them with a laugh... and then a sigh of relief.' In Pia's experience, very few are willing to openly admit to sleeping apart from partners, with many choosing to describe the space as a 'sleep sanctuary' or 'second master.' According to a 2024 survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 29% of Americans have chosen to sleep in a separate bed from their partner – whether in the same or a different room. This practice is also, rather melodramatically, labelled as having a 'sleep divorce'. So why are snoring rooms still spoken about in hushed and negative tones, if mentioned at all? Mum of two and full-time management consultant Charlotte*, 48, is delighted with the positive effect sleeping separately from her snoring husband has made. But, like all three ladies I interviewed, she preferred not to use her surname for fear of word spreading. 'When I first owned up to regularly sleeping apart from my husband, my friend told me it was the beginning of the end for us. The irony is, it's been a complete saviour, but I don't tend to disclose it openly,' Charlotte says. 'I'm not sure the kids have noticed, as I'm a lark whereas my husband's an owl, so they rarely saw us in bed together even when we permanently shared a room.' "Since my husband and I created separate sleeping spaces, we've been so much happier' My friend Clemmie*, 45, shares her home with four kids, two dogs and a loudly snoring husband. She created two adjoining bedrooms when recently redesigning their farmhouse, and cannot understand why sharing a bed is considered such an essential facet of marital harmony. 'The societal expectation that happy couples sleep together when, for so many of us, that leads to chronic sleep deprivation, is crazy. Since my husband and I created separate sleeping spaces, we've been so much happier,' Clemmie says. 'Not only has the hugely disruptive snoring stopped but we naturally power down in different ways at different times of night so we can each indulge our own bedroom routine with no irritating interruptions. 'I was reminded of how vital this is to our relationship on a recent holiday, when I found myself sleeping on the bathroom floor of our villa for four nights, unable to quieten the racket of my husband next to me in bed.' Despite also being married to an occasionally sonorous sleeper, I've never broached the topic of regularly sleeping apart. Instead, I find myself frequently sulking off to the spare room's single bed when not even my trusty pillow over the head trick lessens the noise. Snoring room convert Anna*, 42, who works in publishing, encourages anyone suffering in silence to speak up after she realised the detrimental effect both her snoring and her husband's frequent kicks under the duvet were having. When re-designing her two-bedroom apartment in West London, she took the opportunity to tackle the issue head-on. 'Nick thought I'd be offended if he suggested sleeping apart, so we'd both been dancing around it. Once it was on the table, we agreed on a beautiful solution that made it feel like a luxury, not a failure – his and hers sleeping spaces,' she says. 'It's been a revelation. I sleep guilt-free, and he just manages to sleep, which was a novelty for him for a while! We're both better rested, less snappy and generally more human during the day. It's made the world of difference.' The key to a successful snoring room is that you don't feel like you're being relegated to a lesser space. Pia advises making the room feel as inviting as the master suite. 'I try to make both bedrooms cohesive, ensure beds aren't positioned against adjoining walls for better soundproofing, then make a few tweaks to infuse each client's personality into their own space.' But with so many factors, from the perimenopause to nocturnal teenagers, getting in the way of intimacy in mid-life, do separate rooms lead to a change in conjugal relations? According to Anna, no. 'It's improved things for us. When you're not exhausted, you've got more energy for everything else, including each other," she says. "It's made our relationship more fun again and there's something playful and intentional about one of us 'visiting' the other in bed.' Indeed, Wendy Troxel, author of Sharing the Covers: Every couple's guide to better sleep says that better sleep can lead to better sex. In fact, she argues in her book, good sleep is important for good sex as it has a profound impact on our hormones, including testosterone. Aware of my frequently disturbed beauty sleep, my friend Clemmie turned the questions on me at the end of our interview. 'Sleep is sacred and you're the engine room of your family. Didn't those early child-rearing years show you that you can't operate like that in a permanently sleep-deprived state?' She has a point. Perhaps that spare eaves bedroom currently serving as a family dumping ground is crying out to be converted into my own occasional sleep sanctuary. Something tells me my husband might think it was a worthwhile investment in wifely happiness. * The last names of these women have been omitted at their request, for privacy.
Daily Telegraph
31-05-2025
- General
- Daily Telegraph
‘Sleep separations' are increasing in popularity, new data shows
Don't miss out on the headlines from Illness. Followed categories will be added to My News. There's been a dramatic spike in the number of couples agreeing to part ways in the bedroom as Australia's growing sleep crisis worsens. New data shows that nearly one in three Australians struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week, sparking a rise in the number of couples who have embarked on a 'sleep divorce', opting to get their nightly rest in separate beds or rooms – despite ongoing stigma surrounding the decision. The research, conducted by leading sleep device manufacturer ResMed for its 2025 Global Sleep Survey, has revealed sleep deprivation is so bad that almost 1 in 5 (18 per cent) of Australians have called in sick. But shockingly, 41 per cent of Aussies are choosing to 'just live with' with the consequences of a bad night's kip, almost double the global average. 'This year's Resmed Global Sleep Survey found that the top factors causing Australians to have a poor night's sleep are stress (47 per cent), followed by anxiety (42 per cent) and financial pressures (26 per cent),' Dr. Alison Wimms, Director of Medical Affairs for the company, told 'Screen time, and inconsistent routines also widely affect sleep in Australia.' Some of those not willing to put up with a poor night's sleep have decided to embark on a 'sleep divorce', with 61 per cent of Aussies who have ditched their partner at bedtime reporting a better sleep quality. '26 per cent said it improved their relationship, and almost 16 per cent noted a positive impact on their sex life,' Dr. Wimms added. 'Sleeping separately can also improve sleep quality by reducing disturbances from different schedules, snoring, or movement during sleep.' Australia is caught in a sleep crisis, with nearly one in three Australians struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week. Picture: iStock However sleeping separately does not work for everybody, with 38 per cent of the 1 in 5 Australians who opted for a sleep separation – often due to snoring and restlessness – stating said they felt their quality of sleep got worse or remained the same. Alarmingly, almost 1 in 5 of those who have split up at night said they felt their relationship and sex life took a turn for the worse after sleeping apart. Sydney couple's therapist Shahn Baker Sorekli however warns that while a sleep separation 'can be helpful in some circumstances', he doesn't always recommend it. 'The main reason is coming together at the end of the night allows for a bit of a nice routine for the relationship where you can have a moment of connection and intimacy,' podcast, From the Newsroom. 'I'm not talking about, you know, long deepened meaningfuls in bed. It might just be a little snuggle, might just be reading next to each other, but kind of coming together at the end of the night. 'Being a couple, just unwinding is just a nice point of connection. And if you can maintain a good sleep routine together, it can just be really healthy for the relationship. So you close off the world, you in your room together, snuggling away.' Some couples who sleep apart rave about the benefits of a 'sleep divorce'. Picture: Instagram/AnnieKnight But experts warn it isn't for everyone and can have an impact on intimacy. Picture: Instagram/Lisa Wipfli The clinical psychologist, who authored relationship book The 8 Love Links, said that for those who find sleeping apart 'improves sleep quality it's absolutely a good idea'. 'For example, if one person is a really restless sleeper or somebody has a problem with snoring or perhaps somebody does shift work... and it going to add to the relationship tension, that's when it's a good idea,' he shared. 'You've just got to be careful not to get into any kind of the pitfalls around it. Dr Wimms noted that it is often women who report poorer sleep quality and higher rates of mood disruptions than men, explaining the gap was noticeable. '38 per cent of Australian women struggle to fall asleep at least 3 nights a week, compared to 26 per cent of men,' she explained. 'This is consistent with global numbers where we see women consistently report more sleep challenges. This may be due to hormonal changes through the month, caregiving responsibilities, or higher stress loads. 'While 4 in 10 Australian women say that their sleep is disrupted by their partner at least a few times a week, most often because of snoring or loud breathing, compared to 28 per cent of men.' The ResMed 2025 Global Sleep Survey concluded that sleep has become the 'silent casualty of modern lives'. Picture: iStock The report concluded that sleep has become the 'silent casualty of our busy modern lifestyles', noting the 'lines between work and home more blurred than ever'. Pressures such as the rising cost of living in Australia are also building, resulting in poor sleep across the nation. But it's not all bad news, with ResMed stating that Australians have become more curious about how they sleep, with 33 per cent monitoring their sleep, up from 18 per cent last year. 'This increased curiosity, however, has revealed a gap in action with a staggering 41 per cent of Aussies saying they would just live with poor sleep,' Dr. Wimms said. 'This is higher than the 22 per cent globally who indicated that they would do the same. This gap makes it vital for us to drive awareness of the importance of not just knowing, but taking action to improve your sleep health. 'This could be as simple as raising your sleep in a conversation with your healthcare provider or taking an online sleep assessment to learn more about what may be causing your poor sleep.' Those who have spoken out in the past about the benefits of sleeping separately to their partner include Michael and Lisa Wipfli, Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew and her husband Neil Varcoe as well as popular porn star Annie Knight who recently announced she sleeps in a separate bed to her new fiance Henry Brayshaw. Originally published as 'Sleep separations' are increasing in popularity, new data shows
News.com.au
31-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
‘Sleep separations' are increasing in popularity, new data shows
There's been a dramatic spike in the number of couples agreeing to part ways in the bedroom as Australia's growing sleep crisis worsens. New data shows that nearly one in three Australians struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week, sparking a rise in the number of couples who have embarked on a 'sleep divorce', opting to get their nightly rest in separate beds or rooms – despite ongoing stigma surrounding the decision. The research, conducted by leading sleep device manufacturer ResMed for its 2025 Global Sleep Survey, has revealed sleep deprivation is so bad that almost 1 in 5 (18 per cent) of Australians have called in sick. But shockingly, 41 per cent of Aussies are choosing to 'just live with' with the consequences of a bad night's kip, almost double the global average. 'This year's Resmed Global Sleep Survey found that the top factors causing Australians to have a poor night's sleep are stress (47 per cent), followed by anxiety (42 per cent) and financial pressures (26 per cent),' Dr. Alison Wimms, Director of Medical Affairs for the company, told 'Screen time, and inconsistent routines also widely affect sleep in Australia.' Some of those not willing to put up with a poor night's sleep have decided to embark on a 'sleep divorce', with 61 per cent of Aussies who have ditched their partner at bedtime reporting a better sleep quality. '26 per cent said it improved their relationship, and almost 16 per cent noted a positive impact on their sex life,' Dr. Wimms added. 'Sleeping separately can also improve sleep quality by reducing disturbances from different schedules, snoring, or movement during sleep.' However sleeping separately does not work for everybody, with 38 per cent of the 1 in 5 Australians who opted for a sleep separation – often due to snoring and restlessness – stating said they felt their quality of sleep got worse or remained the same. Alarmingly, almost 1 in 5 of those who have split up at night said they felt their relationship and sex life took a turn for the worse after sleeping apart. Sydney couple's therapist Shahn Baker Sorekli however warns that while a sleep separation 'can be helpful in some circumstances', he doesn't always recommend it. 'The main reason is coming together at the end of the night allows for a bit of a nice routine for the relationship where you can have a moment of connection and intimacy,' podcast, From the Newsroom. 'I'm not talking about, you know, long deepened meaningfuls in bed. It might just be a little snuggle, might just be reading next to each other, but kind of coming together at the end of the night. 'Being a couple, just unwinding is just a nice point of connection. And if you can maintain a good sleep routine together, it can just be really healthy for the relationship. So you close off the world, you in your room together, snuggling away.' The clinical psychologist, who authored relationship book The 8 Love Links, said that for those who find sleeping apart 'improves sleep quality it's absolutely a good idea'. 'For example, if one person is a really restless sleeper or somebody has a problem with snoring or perhaps somebody does shift work... and it going to add to the relationship tension, that's when it's a good idea,' he shared. 'You've just got to be careful not to get into any kind of the pitfalls around it. Dr Wimms noted that it is often women who report poorer sleep quality and higher rates of mood disruptions than men, explaining the gap was noticeable. '38 per cent of Australian women struggle to fall asleep at least 3 nights a week, compared to 26 per cent of men,' she explained. 'This is consistent with global numbers where we see women consistently report more sleep challenges. This may be due to hormonal changes through the month, caregiving responsibilities, or higher stress loads. 'While 4 in 10 Australian women say that their sleep is disrupted by their partner at least a few times a week, most often because of snoring or loud breathing, compared to 28 per cent of men.' The report concluded that sleep has become the 'silent casualty of our busy modern lifestyles', noting the 'lines between work and home more blurred than ever'. Pressures such as the rising cost of living in Australia are also building, resulting in poor sleep across the nation. But it's not all bad news, with ResMed stating that Australians have become more curious about how they sleep, with 33 per cent monitoring their sleep, up from 18 per cent last year. 'This increased curiosity, however, has revealed a gap in action with a staggering 41 per cent of Aussies saying they would just live with poor sleep,' Dr. Wimms said. 'This is higher than the 22 per cent globally who indicated that they would do the same. This gap makes it vital for us to drive awareness of the importance of not just knowing, but taking action to improve your sleep health. 'This could be as simple as raising your sleep in a conversation with your healthcare provider or taking an online sleep assessment to learn more about what may be causing your poor sleep.' Those who have spoken out in the past about the benefits of sleeping separately to their partner include Michael and Lisa Wipfli, Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew and her husband Neil Varcoe as well as popular porn star Annie Knight who recently announced she sleeps in a separate bed to her new fiance Henry Brayshaw.
BreakingNews.ie
21-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
What's a sleep divorce and could it help your relationship?
In today's wellness-focused world, where sleep is recognised as a crucial pillar of good health, 'sleep divorces' – where partners choose to sleep in separate beds or bedrooms – are becoming increasingly popular. This trend has even been embraced by several celebrities, including comedian Katherine Ryan. On the latest episode of her podcast What's My Age Again? – which was released on Tuesday – Ryan chatted with her guest Bryony Gordon about sleeping arrangements, and Gordon shared that: 'I like my sleep. I think sharing a bed with your husband is overrated.' Advertisement Ryan then revealed that she spends most nights sleeping in her children's nursery. When asked by Gordon if she shared a bed with her husband, Ryan said: 'I would. But he snores. He does sweat in his sleep sometimes. I prefer to sleep alone, but I would be willing to do it. But we have very small children who still wake through the night and I sleep in their room like the f****g dog on Peter Pan.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by What's My Age Again? (@whatsmyageagain_pod) We want to know why so many couples are opting for a sleep divorce and if separate beds are the key to a good night's sleep, so have consulted with some top sleep experts to find out… What are the typical reasons couples consider sleeping separately? 'Good-quality sleep is crucial for both physical and mental wellbeing, increasing energy levels, improving mood, and promoting better overall health,' says Dr Hana Patel, NHS GP and resident sleep expert at Time4Sleep . 'A sleep divorce can help couples to address potential sleep disruptions such as snoring or restlessness. 'If you are finding that sleeping with your partner is causing you to experience chronic lack of sleep, and you find that your health and wellbeing are suffering as a result, it may be time to consider a sleep divorce.' Advertisement Snoring is the number one disruption for getting a good night's sleep, according to research by the National Bed Federation . Listening to your partner snore can significantly hinder your sleep quality (Alamy/PA) A survey conducted by The Sleep Council in 2009, found that less than one couple in 10 (7%) had separate beds, suggesting the rate of separate sleeping has roughly doubled in the past decade. 'This research also found that 38% of men and 36% of women quoted snoring as the number one reason for a sleep divorce,' says Dr Ryan Cheong , ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) consultant and sleep surgeon at Cleveland Clinic London. However, other factors such as fidgeting can also disrupt co-sleeping. Advertisement 'If your bed partner is fidgeting or moving around, or if you have different sleeping patterns these factors can potentially disrupt the quality of sleep,' notes Cheong. 'Also, if your partner has very strong, different preferences for their sleeping environment, like temperature, light exposure, mattress comfort or material, then that can be an issue as well.' (Alamy/PA) When should you seek help for snoring? 'With my patients we usually look into how to improve their co-sleeping and explore ways to reduce the symptoms of snoring first, before talking about a potential sleep divorce,' says Cheong. 'Snoring can improve through various lifestyle modifications, like diet and exercise, and with things like mandibular advancement devices.' But symptoms like loud snoring, gasping and choking noises during sleep and daytime tiredness and mood swings could signal a more serious issue like sleep apnea disorder. Exhaustion during the day could be a sign of sleep apnea (Alamy/PA) 'It is estimated that approximately eight million people in the UK have obstructive sleep apnea, and this can have significantly increased risk of things like strokes and heart attacks,' warns Cheong. 'There are different treatments on offer like hypoglossal nerve implants. Both the Genio Nyxoah and the Inspire implants trials that were conducted by myself and my team have been shown to improve both the patient's sleep apnea as well as snoring by the bed partner.' Advertisement Is there any research that suggests the opposite – that we actually sleep better next to someone else? ' Research suggests that there's a 10% increase in rapid eye movement sleep when we're co-sleeping,' explains Cheong. 'The discussions about why this might be the case stems from the social aspect of human evolution, that we tend to be quite social creatures in nature, and having a partner, and in this case a bed partner, gives us the sense of security.' What can couples do to improve their shared sleep environment? There are lots of things you can do to improve your sleep environment (Alamy/PA) 'Ensure that you are having good discussions about your sleeping schedules and are optimising your sleeping environment,' advises Cheong. 'Make sure that the room is as dark as possible, for example. 'Lower temperatures can also help with having a good night's sleep. So, be mindful of the temperatures, the material of the mattress, the material of the blanket, and the preferences of your bed partner.' How would you recommend someone bringing up the idea of a sleep divorce to their partner? 'As long as the discussion and the request is coming from a place of respect, love and understanding, then it's more likely to be received well by your bed partner when the subject is brought up,' says Cheong. Patel agrees and adds: 'If you think that a sleep divorce may be beneficial, discuss the idea with your partner and try testing it out for a short period of time to see if it works for you. Advertisement 'Whilst some may assume that a sleep divorce hinders bedroom intimacy between couples, in fact, it can significantly enhance intimacy and the overall quality of a couple's sex life, particularly for those in long-term relationships. This is because increased energy levels and improved mood from better sleep are important factors in encouraging a healthy libido.'
