How 'sleep divorce' can make your relationship better

Lester Kiewit speaks to Brett Rogers of Have You Heard Marketing.

Have you ever heard of 'sleep divorce'?

The concept describes couples who sleep in separate beds or rooms for improved sleep quality.

The idea isn't that love is lost between you and your partner. However, getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult if you share a bed with someone with different sleeping habits and preferences.

It can be seen as quite a considerate alternative as you don't keep each other out of sleep if one person is a talker, sleepwalker, blanket hogger, snorer, restless sleeper or has different sleeping patterns like working shifts or preferring a hard mattress to a soft one. 

Rogers says, historically, people slept in separate beds for many years so 'sleep divorce' isn't a new concept, even though the name might be.

"The name is not cool. We shouldn't be calling it 'sleep divorce', because that has so many negative connotations and something like this can have so many positive connotations."

- Brett Rogers, Have You Heard Marketing

Rogers believes this alternative sleeping pattern can be beneficial for some couples. However, be mindful of the risk of drifting apart emotionally, and keep communication open and honest.

"We should have our minds open that this can work for some couples and even benefit their relationship."

- Brett Rogers, Have You Heard Marketing

"It can become emotionally strained if you don't communicate, so keep open communication about how you are feeling about being in another room and be mindful of them maybe wanting to have some nights with you... just be careful that it doesn't create a natural divide between you."

- Brett Rogers, Have You Heard Marketing

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.