Misery definitely loves company when you're having to contend with your partner's sleep issues.
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According to a new survey by Silentnight, a lot of us of us are being kept awake by their nocturnal shenanigans, with more than half (55%) of us have been woken by our partner sleep talking, more than a quarter (26%) from laughing and one in ten from sleep walking.
And, with over 51% of us admitting to snoring, that's bound to be in the mix too.
What might seem amusing at first definitely loses its charm when you're having poor sleep as a result of it. But, short of kicking them out of bed, what's the solution? A good place to start is figuring out what might be causing the sleep issues.
HuffPost UK Lifestyle spoke to Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, Silentnight’s sleep expert and a sleep therapist at Capio Nightingale Hospital, who said: "Sorting out a person's sleep problems is like detective work. It could be alcohol, dehydration, caffeine, or they may be overweight. If person is talking in their sleep, that could be someone who needs to access their creative outlets. A lot of it is about expression."
If your sleep is being disrupted regularly though, you may want to spring for a bigger bed. "I've seen big people sleeping in tiny beds," says Dr Nerina, "but by going up a size you're giving each other room to move around. Partners who tend to be most affected by snoring and other noises are usually sensitive sleepers. They typically need to sleep on same of the bed, maybe have a favourite blanket."
So, is sleeping in separate bedrooms the solution? "It doesn't have to be a permanent solution," she adds, "but it might help in the interim. Most people I work with or deal with are relieved when I suggest that. The thing you need to realise is that sleeping separately doesn't mean there is something wrong with your relationship."
It makes good relationship sense because couples are more likely to argue or bicker when one person has slept badly.
The survey also revealed that in addition to being woken up by our partners, money worries (26%), stress (25%) and noisy neighbours (25%) have all disturbed our beauty sleep.
HOW TO GET BACK TO SLEEP
Dr Nerina advises:
- If you wake up in the night, a quick fix is not to check the time. It will make a massive difference
- Keep bedroom technology free so that you don't check emails
- Have a 60 – 90 minute ban on laptops, phones and computers before bed. Even a Kindle can inhibit melatonin levels, which affects your sleep.
- Eat breakfast first thing in morning. People have better sleep – they tend to have more melatonin, and there is less reliance on your adrenals to give you energy.
- If you can’t get to sleep, close your eyes, breathe deeply through belly and go through positive things that have happened. It's like counting sheep.