5 Tips for Sleeping with Your Partner

Falling asleep and waking up next to someone you love is a wonderful feeling. It’s not always easy to get a good night’s sleep when you’re sharing your bed with another person, though. No matter how much you love them, you could have trouble falling and staying asleep when there is someone next to you. When sharing a bed is more difficult than enjoyable, it’s hard to get the restful sleep your body and mind need. Whether your partner is a bed hog, steals all the covers or keeps you up all night with their snoring, there are solutions that don’t involve sleeping in separate beds.

Newly formed and well-established couples alike experience this all-too-common problem, and sometimes it goes on for years. In addition to making you cranky and contributing to health problems, this lack of sleep could lead to struggles in your relationship. To avoid these complications, check out the tips for sleeping with your partner below.

#1 Upgrade Your Mattress

Replacing your mattress is the best first step when you’re having trouble sleeping for a few reasons. First, mattresses typically last, at most, 10 years. If yours is older, it’s due for an upgrade. Additionally, when you replace your old-fashioned mattress with a brand-new Purple Mattress, you can enjoy much greater comfort and support. Check out Casper mattresses too. Whatever you choose, upgrading your mattress can solve functional problems.

If you can’t sleep because your partner is crowding you out of the bed, upgrading to a larger mattress (and a new bed, of course) could solve the problem. And if incessant snoring is the problem, check out adjustable beds. Some have built-in snore detection and will adjust your partner’s side of the bed automatically to ease snoring.

#2 Ditch Your Old Bedding

Your old sheets could prevent you from getting the rest you need. If you have been using the same ones for a long time or they just don’t feel as comfy as they should, give them a much-needed upgrade. Try cotton organic sheets. They’re super soft, so they feel great against the skin. And since they’re organic, they’re made from cotton that hasn’t been exposed to harsh chemicals. That means organic cotton sheets won’t irritate your skin like regular sheets might. The cotton isn’t genetically engineered, either.

Sheets made from organic cotton are breathable and will help you and your partner stay cool and comfortable all night long. And, of course, they’re environmentally friendly, which means you can rest easy knowing you’re doing your part to protect the planet.

#3 Cuddle Before Sleep, Not During

There is no better way to end the day than snuggling up with your significant other. Physical touch triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone that encourages love and fosters strong relationships. Recent research even indicates that it even aids in healthy communication. For these reasons, cuddling with your partner before bed could strengthen your relationship and help you get a better night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, staying snuggled up all night can keep you awake rather than help you sleep. Maintaining constant contact all night long isn’t comfortable for everyone. If you keep waking up during those all-night cuddles, try sleeping close to each other without touching. Sleeping an inch or so apart preserves relationship satisfaction while making it easier to get some shut-eye.

#4 Add White Noise

If you normally sleep in silence, white noise may help you sleep by blocking out sounds — like your partner’s snoring. And listening to consistent white noise isn’t disruptive, unlike leaving your television on all night or playing music.

Adding white noise can be as simple as switching on a fan when you go to bed. Or you could buy a sound machine. The benefit of these machines is that most play a variety of sounds, enabling you to find one that works for both you and your partner. Keep in mind that sleeping with white noise may take some time to get used to, especially if you normally sleep in complete silence. Give yourself a few nights to adjust.

#5 Make Your Bedroom an Electronics-Free Zone

Your bedroom is meant to be a welcoming place where you can enjoy a great night’s sleep — not where you go to spend hours on your phone or laptop. Watching TV in bed isn’t ideal, either. Staring at a screen, even a small one, can throw off your circadian rhythm. This makes it harder to fall asleep.

Your partner’s use of electronic devices could prevent you from sleeping. The lights and sounds from their device are distracting and definitely impact sleep quality. And if either of you gets frustrated with the other for being glued to a phone or tablet all evening, having such devices in the bedroom can trigger anger and cause fights.

Making your bedroom an electronics-free zone is the best solution. If you need to have your phone nearby so people can get in touch with you if necessary, don’t put it on your bedside table. As soon as you enter your bedroom, put it in an area where you’d have to get up to check it. Turn off all unnecessary notifications to make your device less likely to cause sleep disruptions.

Closing Thoughts

Don’t let sleep problems impact your relationship or your health. If you are struggling to fall or stay asleep, talk to your partner. Communicating openly about the problem enables you to find a solution that works for both of you. Whatever you do, don’t let your sleep difficulties cause resentment toward your partner. Talk about the problem and try the tips above. Before you know it, you’ll both be sleeping better than ever before.