This Is How You Can Still Get A Good Night's Sleep While Sharing A Bed With Your SO
Honesty hour: I was in a long-term relationship for 10 years, and throughout those 10 years, my boyfriend had a serious sleep apnea issue.
If you think sleeping with another person in the bed is hard, try snoozing next to someone who snores the night away.
But my ex didn't just snore -- it was more like a bear in hibernation who's literally choking in his sleep just to breathe.
At first, it was really difficult for me to catch any Z's under such circumstances. I always worried he'd stop breathing for too long, and, more realistically, I actually had a hard time falling asleep with such loud snoring right next to my damn ear.
Truthfully, I slept way better when I had the bed to myself, but I still loved being beside him all night.
Sleeping next to your significant other is one of the best, most sentimental parts about being in a relationship, so I'd take the snoring and everything that came with it any day.
Nevertheless, I do understand, for some couples, this isn't the best formula for a healthy and happy relationship.
For one thing, it turns out my experience of sleeping with a noisy, uncomfortable partner is not at all peculiar.
In fact, men are actually the ones who are usually responsible for disturbing their partner's sleep.
And they tend to get a bit more unruly than women throughout their sleep cycle.
Sheesh. What are guys dreaming about exactly?
What's even more interesting is I'm also not alone in still wanting to sleep with my partner despite his snoring situation.
In a study published by the journal Sleep and Biological Rhythms, women with disruptive sleep partners still preferred to sleep with their significant others, no matter how excruciating the experience could be.
If you're reading this and you still say "hell no" to the idea of sleeping next to someone who will rob you of your beauty sleep, believe me, I feel you. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you should suffer next to them all night, right?
Elite Daily spoke with Sleep Train's sleep and wellness expert Parinaz Samimi, who's here to give you with some advice on how exactly to cure your sleep issues with your SO.
According to Samimi, the bigger and better the mattress, the better the snooze for both of you.
She explains,
Getting a bigger mattress offers the most effective solution to getting better sleep next to your significant other. Investing in a larger-sized mattress is investing in the longevity of your relationship -- it provides more space and temperature control and mitigates being disrupted by your partner's tossing and turning.
If your brain is already wondering about the type of mattress you should opt for, Samimi recommends memory foam:
Memory foam mattresses, in particular, mold to your weight and body size without affecting your partner, making sleep a pleasant experience for both parties.
Elite Daily also spoke with the popular company Mattress Firm, who agrees, saying you really have to evaluate the quality of your mattress:
If you and/or your partner have slept on a mattress for more than eight years, or if it shows signs of wear, is lumpy or sagging, it may be time to replace.
However, Mattress Firm also stresses the importance of talking to your partner, possibly consulting a doctor, and creating an overall good, peaceful sleep environment:
It is important to develop a sleep environment that is conducive to both partners' sleep preferences to ensure a good night's sleep. This includes deciding on a room temperature ideal for both. Quiet conversation, back rubs, or cuddling promotes a peaceful transition to sleep.
Talk with your partner and figure out a comforting bedtime routine where both of you can relax together, and the two of you can settle into bed at the same time.
Then, relish in the joy of cuddling one another to sleep.
