Sleep Apnoea Centre – Everything You Need to Know About Sleep Divorce
MAY , 2025 .4Mins 44Sec
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Do you struggle with getting enough sleep? Are you looking for ways to improve the quality of your sleep? Then you may have come across the term “sleep divorce” in online articles or friendly conversations. This strategy has found a good number of followers lately, especially among travellers and working couples.
Sleep divorce is the practice of couples choosing to sleep separately— whether in different beds or even separate rooms— to improve their sleep quality and overall well-being. This decision is often driven by circumstances where one partner’s sleep routine and habits interfere with the other’s, causing distress not just in their work-rest cycle but also in their relationships. While sleeping apart may initially seem unusual or detrimental to intimacy, many couples find it beneficial for their health and relationships.
What Are Your Sleep Needs?
7 to 9 hours of sleep is clinically recommended for a moderately active adult. This can be difficult to meet when you or your partner has problems such as snoring, restless movements, sleep disorders like sleep apnoea, etc. Many people fall short of this goal, with the average adult managing only around six hours of sleep per night.
What Is Sleep Divorce and Why Are Couples Choosing It?
With an increasingly hectic work life, the need for rest and the strategies used to ensure it are also in flux in change. When one or both partners face challenges in getting adequate sleep, it affects their productivity and even the sustainability of the relationship. This inspires couples to search for novel strategies that fit their modern lifestyle. Here, sleep Divorce assumes importance. A 2023 study revealed that 24% of married millennials sometimes choose to sleep separately, while 19% consistently do so. Similarly, Hilton’s 2025 Trends Report found that 63% of travellers reported better sleep alone, with 37% choosing separate beds while on holiday. These statistics highlight the growing awareness of the importance of optimum quantity and quality of sleep and the willingness to explore alternative sleeping arrangements among today’s populace.
Several factors can lead couples to opt for separate sleeping arrangements. Some of the most common reasons include the following:
Snoring, Restlessness and Movement: A partner’s snoring or excessive movements during sleep can be a significant source of sleep disruption. This makes it difficult for their partner to fall or stay asleep and rest undisturbed.
Sleep Disorders: Conditions like sleep apnoea or REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) can be other sources of disturbance. Sleep apnoea is characterised by problems like breathing interruptions, while RBD can lead individuals to physically act out vivid dreams, sometimes violently. These conditions require medical assistance, and before or while receiving care, it might be necessary for couples to resort to separate sleeping arrangements for health and safety reasons.
Frequent Sleep Interruptions: Factors like different work routines, parenting needs, pregnancy, seasonal allergies, or illnesses can lead to frequent night-time awakenings.
Diverging Sleep Preferences: Preferences on the kind of mattress to use, room temperature, light and noise levels, etc., can differ from person to person. They could also change over time, which might pose a challenge to the couple in creating a mutually comfortable sleep environment.
Many couples who have adopted a sleep divorce report a boost in their sleep quality and overall well-being. Some key advantages can be:
Better Sleep Quality: Studies show that approximately 53% of individuals who try sleeping separately experience an enhanced sleep quality.
Increased Sleep Duration: The couples who sleep apart have reported gaining an average of 37 additional minutes of sleep per night, which contributed to their mental and physical well-being.
Reduced Relationship Conflicts: In many couples, sleep deprivation has effectively lowered the conflicts born out of irritability and frustration caused by sleep deprivation. Sufficient rest and recovery time have resulted in healthier relationships.
Stronger Emotional Connection: Well-rested individuals are observed to be more patient, empathetic, and emotionally available, leading to healthier interactions and a more positive relationship dynamic. The overall perception of the relationship quality significantly improves when the partners individually do better in their health.
While sleep divorce offers several benefits, there are potential concerns that couples need to navigate. Some of these include:
Communication is Key: The decision to sleep separately might seem harsh at first. Couples need to discuss the matter, come to a decision together, and commit to improving the situation while ensuring the other feels heard and supported.
Maintaining Intimacy: Sleeping separately does not have to mean a loss of physical or emotional closeness. While practising sleep divorce, couples need to establish new bedtime routines, such as cuddling before bed, sharing a morning coffee, or setting aside dedicated time for intimacy. It is also important to talk about sex life beforehand and make mutually acceptable decisions.
Trial Period Approach: It is advised to opt for a temporary trial period to assess whether sleeping separately works for the couple before making a long-term commitment.
When Do You Have to Consider Sleep Divorce?
While minor problems like different sleeping times and choice of light or bedding can be managed through talking and arriving at compromises, some situations call for urgent changes in sleeping strategy. If sleeping with a partner is causing consistent disruptions and leading to chronic sleep deprivation, it may be time to consider sleeping separately. Poor sleep quality is linked to several health risks, including:
Increased likelihood of car accidents and workplace errors
Higher risk of heart disease and weakened immune function
Greater susceptibility to weight gain and slower metabolism
Increased stress, irritability, and emotional strain
What Are the Alternatives to Sleep Divorce?
Though separate sleeping places have worked in the cases of many couples, there can be many practical or emotional reasons why you might not be able to do so. For example, urban living spaces are increasingly small, offering no space for two separate bedrooms. It can also affect the family expenses. In such cases, there are alternative solutions that may improve sleep without requiring a complete sleep divorce. These include:
Screening for Sleep Apnoea: If snoring is the primary issue, a medical evaluation for sleep apnoea is advisable. The complications associated with sleep apnoea go far beyond the disturbance caused by snoring, like cardiovascular disease, type 2- diabetes, and depression. It can be treated with medical interventions such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy.
Adjusting Sleep Routines: If one partner is a night owl and the other prefers an early bedtime, small compromises—such as gradually shifting sleep times—may help synchronise sleep patterns and reduce disturbances.
Using Sleep Aids: Some aids easily available in the market, like eye masks, earplugs, white noise machines, or blackout curtains, can help drastically minimise disruptions and get better quality sleep while sharing a bed.
The Scandinavian Sleep Method: In this method, couples share a bed but use separate blankets to accommodate differing temperature preferences and minimise movement disturbances. This approach allows partners to remain in the same sleeping space while addressing comfort differences.
Final Thoughts
Relationship satisfaction, general health, and well-being depend on getting a good night's sleep. Although it might not be the best option for every couple, sleep divorce can be a workable solution for people who have chronic sleeping problems. Sleep arrangements that promote both individual rest and relationship harmony can be achieved through open communication, a willingness to try out various solutions, and an emphasis on preserving intimacy outside of the bedroom. The main conclusion is that getting enough sleep, whether in tandem or separately, can result in happier, healthier relationships and better day-to-day functioning.
STAR Hospital Sleep Apnoea Centre Welcomes You
If you or your partner experiences frequent snoring, restless sleep, or daytime fatigue, don't ignore the signs. Consult the experts at STAR Hospitals Sleep Apnoea Centre today for a comprehensive evaluation and personalised treatment. STAR Hospitals promises you care, comfort, and trust, built over years of providing excellent service. Take the first step towards better sleep and a healthier life — your wellbeing starts with a good night’s rest.
