Days Are Numbered For The Double Bed

4 months ago 15th Jul 15:44

Exhausted couples are dumping their double beds to decamp to the spare room alone, not as a result of an argument, but as a last resort to get some sleep.

In a new survey by Sominex, nearly a quarter of British couples (22 per cent) said they were either sleeping in separate beds at some point in the week, or had different rooms altogether as an essential measure to get some shut-eye.

Brits are blaming their partner’s sleeping habits for this new trend. Over three quarters of respondents (77 per cent) admitted that snoring (40 per cent), fidgeting (24 per cent) and getting up for the toilet or to snack (13 per cent) were the most disruptive bedtime behaviours which made the dynamics of sharing a bed, or even a room, impossible.

This new style of sleeping is understandable. A fifth of respondents said they were more tired on a Monday than they were the previous week. With 54 per cent saying they were more argumentative with their loved ones after a bad night’s sleep, it’s no surprise that having separate rooms is increasingly the preferred option for cohabiting couples.

In general Brits are not sleeping well. Although many still feel tense from work when it comes to relaxing before bedtime, it seems most are still in the dark about how to wind down properly. Over a third of those questioned (35 per cent) blamed modern technology and working lifestyles for their restless sleeping. However, contrary to popular advice, traditional remedies such as having a hot milky drink (3 per cent), having a hot water bottle (1%) or a warm bath (less than 1 per cent) are being shunned in favour of watching TV (34 per cent).

Another strange revelation from the survey is that despite having easy access to a partner for comfort at bedtime, many still seek reassurance elsewhere. In the recent study, 40 per cent admitted to cuddling a pillow, teddy bear or comfort blanket in bed.

Dr. Chris Idzikowski, sleep expert at the Edinburgh Sleep Centresays: "Make sure the bedroom is a restful and quiet place and try to useit for sleep only. Avoid turning it into an entertainment centre with televisions, computers and stereos, keep the room cool and invest in some good curtains or blinds to ensure the room is dark.

"Try not to drink caffeine based drinks or alcohol before bedtime and if you can't sleep don't worry, get up and rest somewhere else until you feel sleepy enough to go back to bed. For short-term sleeping difficulties, you could try an over the counter sleep aid."