Scandinavian Sleep Method
We used to see couples sleep in separate beds on TV shows like I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke Show. But that was more about the television “morality codes” at the time than sleep.
In real life, around 20% of couples sleep separately at least part of the time. However, this method, sometimes called “sleep divorce,” isn’t just caused by their partner’s snoring or disagreements about how cool to keep the bedroom.
Respondents to one mattress company poll said their partners kept them awake by hogging the covers (27%), tossing and turning (25%) and “starfishing” across the bed (21%).
Despite those frustrations, studies like the one in Sleep report that people who share a bed with a partner have less insomnia, are less fatigued, fall asleep faster, sleep longer and have a lower risk of sleep apnea than people who sleep alone. They also spend more time in REM (deep) sleep.
So, what do you do if you want to sleep with the love of your life, but you don’t love that they run hot as a space heater, or that they frequently disturb your sleep?
A way to meet in the middle is the Scandinavian Sleep Method. This bedtime ritual—said to have originated in Nordic countries like Sweden, Norway and Denmark—involves couples sleeping in the same bed while using separate duvets (and forgoing the top sheet). To do this, people often use twin or twin XL comforters, so each one covers only half of the bed.
There are several benefits to this sleep method, including:
Personalized blanket choices.
Though U.S. News & World Report found that 59% of Americans would prefer to share a blanket, picking your own means you can select the weight, thickness and texture you prefer. For hot sleepers and women battling night sweats or hot flashes due to menopause, that might also mean getting a blanket with cooling technology.
Fewer sleep disturbances.
If you’re sharing a blanket, your sleep may be disturbed every time your partner moves. The Sleep Foundation reports that 69% of men and 76% of women aged 40 and older get up to use the bathroom at least once per night. That doesn’t even account for other chronic conditions that cause movement, such as restless leg syndrome.
Better temperature control.
If you and your sleep partner disagree about what temperature to keep your bedroom at, you’re not alone. One study found that while women have higher body temperatures during sleep than men do, they also have lower finger temperatures, slower blood flow and are more sensitive to room temperature. Fortunately, having individual bedding lets you maintain your preferred temperature without disturbing your partner or fighting over the thermostat.
And don’t worry, your marriage isn’t in jeopardy if you use the Scandinavian Sleep Method. You can still get the health benefits of cuddling—such as reduced anxiety, better heart health and a boosted immune system—before you get under your respective blankets.
Schedule an Appointment
If you regularly experience sleep difficulties or are struggling with fatigue so great that it affects your daily life, it might be time to schedule an appointment with a doctor.
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