Sleeping well is connected to a lot more than good health - emotional as well as physical. It creates a harmonious relationship between you and your partner.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on June 26, 2020. It has since been updated.
The feeling of safety and warmth that accompanies sleeping in the arms of a partner is unmatched. At the end of the day, when we snuggle in closer together, the calm that washes over us brings a sense of well-being. Research has also linked sleeping with a loved one to better health in the longterm.
"Sleep is a critically important health behavior that we know is associated with heart disease and psychiatric well-being," says Wendy Troxel, an assistant professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, according to Medical Daily.
She also found that women in longterm relationships fell asleep quicker and woke up less often at night when compared to single women. One of the reasons was the feeling of safety and security that reduced the level of the stress hormone and increased oxytocin, the love hormone.
Health benefits apart, it is also great for the relationship when partners share a bed every day. Here are some benefits that are good for the body and mind:
Couples who cuddle through the night are more likely to be happy with their relationship, a University of Hertfordshire survey revealed. Almost 90% of couples that slept with only an inch of distance were happy in their relationships. While people love having their own space in the bed when sleeping, the ones who are happiest are the ones snuggling at night, showing that sleeping with your partner is crucial to the relationship.
Couples that were sexually active were more resistant to common colds and flu since they produced more antibodies, according to research by Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. Sleeping in the same bed is likely to lead to intercourse and that improves your health. Even cuddling together can improve your immune system.
An irregular sleep pattern can make a person more anxious and that leads to more disagreements and conflict. Since sleeping with a partner can actually help people sleep better and have a better mood, it leads to better emotional connections as well as open communication. On the contrary, bad sleep leads to us losing control of our emotions that can affect our relationships with everyone, says Better Sleep.
Better sleep means better health, which leads to better skin. You won't need a bunch of cosmetics to look good if you sleep well. When you spend quality time together, cuddle, and have intercourse, it improves general health and slows down aging. It can help you shed years off of your face and body because of lower stress levels. Even your body feels younger, says the thegoodbody.com.
When there is lack of sleep, the amygdala in your brain - which connects emotions to memories - doesn't work effectively. It can lead to you overreacting or not paying attention to other people's emotions. A 2013 study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine revealed that those who didn't sleep well had symptoms of depression and perceived stress. “This can lead to more conflict and less satisfying relationships,” Jennifer L. Martin, a clinical psychologist and behavioral sleep medicine specialist at UCLA, tells Time.
So, when you get good sleep regularly, your emotions and your reading of other's emotions stay devoid of conflict. It helps you open up to your partner.
When you sleep naked with your partner in the same bed, it creates a sense of openness and intimacy. It breeds content in the relationship. It is a sign of trust and complete acceptance in the relationship.
References:
https://time.com/5348694/how-sleep-affects-relationships/
https://bettersleep.org/blog/the-benefits-of-sleeping-together/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23592753
https://www.thegoodbody.com/benefits-of-sleeping-next-to-someone/
https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/12/03/31633/
https://www.medicaldaily.com/surprising-reasons-why-sleeping-someone-better-sleeping-alone-240711
