There are numerous cases where couples are compatible in many ways – except when it comes to sleeping in the same bed.
We all have different sleep patterns, and we all value good sleep. However, when there’s incompatibility in this department, it could put a strain on the relationship.
With a little research on the web its apparent that this is a common issue amongst most couples. The question is, how do 2 people find a way to make sleep time enjoyable – or at least, bearable.
The most common issues amongst sleep partners are snoring (yes, even women snore!), tossing and turning, the struggle to fall asleep, temperature, one doesn’t like to snuggle, blanket-hogging and more! The result typically is that someone ends up sleeping in the other room.
Here we list some sleep incompatibility issues and potentially how you can fix them.
Early bird meets the night owl
Partners can have different sleep times. One likes to get to bed early and chooses to have the room dark. The other will watch tv til’ late and fall asleep with the light on. Try this is instead:
Get to bed at the early birds preference, spend some time together cuddling talking or getting intimate. When the early bird falls asleep, the night owl can retreat to the tv room until he’s ready to sleep.
- Enjoy your time together earlier in the evening before either of you are thinking of sleeping.
- Agree to spend time lounging together in bed on weekend mornings.
- Either of you should be considerate of the other depending on whose sleeping earlier.
- Try sleep masks and meditative audio’s through in-ear earphones. They are useful for blocking out light and distracting sound.
Tossing and Turning
Restless Leg Syndrome is often to blame for this. Its the need to constantly move your legs or other parts of your body. Others just happen to do so with no real medical reason. This most certainly affects your partner from enjoying a sound sleep.
Besides seeking medical advise for restless legs, check out this blog [https://www.mattressking.co.za/latest/Restless-Leg-Syndrome-Tips-For-Relief-2] for more about RLS. Another solution is to get a memory foam mattress. The thick moldable foam absorbs movements so there’s far less bounce in the bed when either partner turns over. Check out our range of beds on our website or come down to one of our stores for expert advice.
Hogging the blanket
Do you find yourself waking up freezing only to realise your partner has hogged the duvet? Perhaps you’re the one doing the hogging! Maybe one of you likes the heat turned right up and the other breaks out into a sweat. The temperature issue is common amongst couples.
The easiest way to solve this conundrum is to each have your own blanket. Sounds weird? Not really. On a larger bed this is doable. You can both decide which sheets and blankets are suitable and this will likely reduce the discomfort you have been experiencing so far.
Ah yes…. the snoring
This is the most common issue that sends someone to the other room! Severe snoring can hit 80 decibels! That’s louder than peak traffic. This can be a relationship killer. So its best to fix this as soon as possible, as its results in a dramatic reduction in sleep hours for the other partner.
If you struggle with sleep apnoea, its best to have this treated medically. For the usual snoring however, here are a few tricks that can reduce this concern:
- Avoid alcohol before bed time
- Try nasal strips or decongestants.
- Soft earplugs are effective at blocking out noise
- Use positioning pillows designed to keep the snorer off his back
- Seek professional advice if these don’t work.