How sleeping next to a loved one can improve your well-being (2024)

FAQs

How sleeping next to a loved one can improve your well-being? ›

Emotionally, sleeping next to someone means reduced anxiety, a sense of safety, improved sleep quality, and increased happiness. Sleeping next to someone can also create a stronger relationship bond. So, what if you and your partner don't sleep that well together? First, don't stress!

Is it true you sleep better next to someone you love? Yes. numerous well-conducted studies have measured sleep quality using scientific instruments to confirm that couples who regularly share a bed do sleep better and have an overall better relationship in addition to many benefits to health and happiness.

Improved sleep duration and efficiency: Research shows us that sleeping next to a partner is linked to increased sleep duration, higher sleep efficiency, and better sleep quality overall. 2 Getting a good night's sleep helps reduce stress and boosts restorative functions.

Oxytocin is also thought to alleviate stress and promote calmness. As a result, this may translate to feeling more relaxed and even sleepy when you're with Your Person versus when you are alone. There's even research showing that sleep in general is better with a partner, which might play a factor.

Reasons You May Have Difficulty Sleeping in a Shared Bed. If your bed partner does anything to disrupt the bedroom environment – leaves on lamp lights, makes noise, has excessive movement, etc. – it will cause non-restorative, fragmented sleep that can result in chronic sleep deprivation.

The physical advantages include lowered blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and reduced inflammation. Sleeping next to someone can also help promote deep REM sleep. Emotionally, sleeping next to someone means reduced anxiety, a sense of safety, improved sleep quality, and increased happiness.

Dozing off close to the person you love help in release of oxytocin (the love hormone), serotonin (contributes to wellbeing and happiness, norepinephrine (helps to regulate sleep and balances stress), vasopressin (increases sleep quality & decreases cortisol) and prolactin (associated with improving the immune system & ...

Sleeping in separate beds can affect a couple's sex life. Couples that sleep separately may experience issues with intimacy and spontaneity. Couples can also experience decreased bonding or closeness. However making sleep a priority can lead to a more vibrant sex life.

Chemically bonded

Behind the scenes, the chemicals in our body can take off when we're near our loved one. “Being with someone we love and trust, inspires the release of love-induced hormones that promote relaxation, wellbeing and sleep,” explains Tasha. “Oxytocin is the cuddle hormone.

Upon going to sleep, the body and mind settle down from daily activity. Our eyes are closed. Consciousness drifts away from the pace of our waking lives. Our physiology and neurology begin their critical restorative processes, and for the soul, now unencumbered by the body and mind, rejuvenation can begin.

How long does grief fatigue last? ›

For many, there may be an expectation on how long their grief exhaustion should last. Since each person is different and each loss is unique, there is no right answer to how long grief fatigue or grief should last. Be gentle with yourself and allow the process to unfold naturally.

Feeling calm, cared for, and secure with the person next to you also allows you to relax and reduce hypervigilance; this ensures a better regulation of your serotonergic, dopaminergic and adrenergic receptor systems which would result in better sleep,” he told indianexpress.com.

"People in romantic relationships tend to have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone associated with pair bonding," Madeline Sprajcer, a psychology lecturer at Australia's Central Queensland University, told Newsweek. "It also appears that oxytocin can have a positive impact on our sleep."

While a sleep divorce can improve sleep quality and reduce disturbances, for some couples, it may cause feelings of emotional disconnection and reduce spontaneous intimacy. (Women are more likely to be sleep deprived. Here's why that's so bad.) Yet, for others, separate rooms can boost a relationship.

In addition, those who shared their bed with their partner reported lower anxiety, stress, and depression, along with greater life satisfaction. Sharing a bed also appeared to help the relationship via increased social support and relationship satisfaction.

When you're sharing your bed with someone, you're likely to be touching each other more than if you were sleeping in separate beds. This can help create a feeling of connection and intimacy.

Health benefits of having a loving and a trusting relationship. But, you don't just get better sleep, a loving and trusting partnership has various other health benefits — both, physical and mental. According to Dr Tilwe a healthy romantic relationship is a good prognostic factor for your mental health and hygiene.

“Being with someone we love and trust, inspires the release of love-induced hormones that promote relaxation, wellbeing and sleep,” explains Tasha. “Oxytocin is the cuddle hormone. It sparks feelings of love and trust during bonding moments like childbirth, breastfeeding and snuggles.

Touching or being around your loved one releases the “love hormone” oxytocin, which promotes sleep and can make you feel drowsy. Being with your partner makes you feel safe and secure, both emotionally and physically. This makes you feel relaxed and makes it easier to fall asleep.

The oxytocin effect

Research shows that snuggling increases feelings of comfort, relaxation, and intimacy, while boosting positive emotions. All of these benefit sleep quality and overall well-being.