By Ravelle Worthington, SELF
In a perfect world we'd all share a blissful night's sleep with our significant other. But between your tossing and turning and his snoring, the struggle is real -- leading about 25 percent of couples to sleep in separate rooms.
While this can be an effective solution, you also run the risk of decreased intimacy, says Michael Breus, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and sleep specialist. Don't lose any more sleep over it though with these five solutions to common blockers for getting your much needed zzzs.
1. A chronic snorer. You love him, but it seems like his snoring gets louder and louder as the night progresses. And no matter how much you push and prod, five minutes later he's back at it again. There are many contributing factors that cause a person to snore: congestion, late night drinking, sleeping on your back, or sleep apnea to name a few. Breus suggests diminishing the noise by surrounding your ears with a wall of pillows. "The sound will bounce back in the other direction, reducing the noise enough so you're more likely to drift off," he says.
2. Some like it hot. Others cold. Ah, the room temperature debate. You like to be warm and toasty, but he prefers a cooler temp. What to do? Luckily this is a pretty easy problem to compromise on. Choose a temperature that's in the middle -- that way you can add an extra blanket and he can sleep on the outside of the covers.
3. Different bedtimes. Maybe one of you likes to stay up late watching SNL, while the other hits the pillows at a more reasonable hour. Breus suggests making a deal that the later-to-bed partner is extra quiet and doesn't do anything to wake the other (read: headphones are a must) and the early riser reciprocates. This means no hitting the snooze button for the next 30 minutes.
4. You're a cuddler, he's not. It's completely normal for partners to have different sleep styles and just because you like your space, he should know that doesn't mean your relationship is doomed or that you have intimacy issues. A good compromise: "Agree to cuddle until the snuggler drifts off, at which point the other person can retreat to their side of the bed and sleep solo for the rest of the night," says Janet Kennedy, PhD, clinical psychologist and sleep specialist in New York City.
5. The blanket hog. There's nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, freezing cold only to realize that all of the blanket is around your partner. A good option is to have two sets of covers -- one blanket for you and another for your significant other. Because no one can take two covers, right?