Do you and your partner end the day by curling up in the same bed, or do you retreat to separate sleeping spaces? For most couples, sharing a bed is almost a given – a nightly ritual of cuddles, conversation and drifting off side by side. But what if sleeping together is actually getting in the way of a good night’s sleep? For some couples, separate beds may not be a sign of distance at all, but a way to sleep better.
Tech entrepreneur, longevity expert and the CEO of Kernel, Bryan Johnson , has revealed that he has never shared a bed with his partner, Kate Tolo. The catch is that this was self-reported. The longevity expert highlights findings from various studies on couples sleeping together, while noting that the data varies depending on factors such as sleep cycles, sex, and overall physical and mental health. One study found that sharing a bed can trigger more nighttime awakenings, while another suggested that couples who sleep together tend to have greater synchronisation between their sleep stages. But the science is split. The biohacker elaborates, “The data varies by sex. One study shows that women sleep measurably worse with a partner in bed, while men report sleeping better. So, happier and healthier people may just be more likely to share beds.”
In an Instagram video shared on August 11, the biohacker explained why the couple sleep in separate beds, citing studies on partners sharing a bed and what the research says about its impact. Bryan explains, “A study of 55 couples found about six partner triggered awakenings per night. A separate study of 12 couples found that sleeping together came with about 10 percent more REM sleep and tighter sleep stage syncing between partners. That said, in a survey of 1,000 adult couples who slept together report sleeping better overall, less insomnia, less fatigue, and better mental health.
