Eating in bed, snoring and temperature disagreements – is it time for a sleep divorce?

When you share a bed with a problem sleeper – whether they snore, kick, talk, or hinder a good night’s rest in any other way – your mood and energy levels can plummet.

The solution? Maybe it's time for a sleep divorce.

Turns out many of us are arguing about more than stealing the duvet, with disagreements over room temperature proving to be the most common cause of bedtime friction.

New research has revealed that one in four (24.3%) of Brits are disagreeing with their partners over the ideal sleeping temperature.

Eating in bed and leaving crumbs or a mess behind comes in at a close second, with 23.7% admitting to being annoyed by their partner's unsociable habit.

Read more: Is napping ever a good idea? How to nap without damaging your health, Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read

Of course, snoring also featured highly as an irritation with 17.6% of the population struggling with their other half's night time breathing habits.

The survey, by Mattress Online, also found 7.5% are disturbed by their partner sleep talking or walking, with around a third (30%) taking over an hour to go back to sleep once awake.

A further third (33%) of Brits say sexual intimacy is affected by bedtime habits.

So how do we manage to alleviate these night-time disputes and get back to getting a good night's sleep?

It seems, the recommendation could be breaking up with your partner, at least while you're trying to get some shut-eye, that is.

Read more: Expert reveals the worst sleeping position – and how to stop doing it, Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read

“You should always sleep alone,” insists NHS surgical doctor, Dr Karan Rajan in his now-viral TikTok video. “If the other person moves around in their sleep or snores, that will stop you from getting into the deep stages of sleep your body needs to recharge, affecting sleep quality.

“Not everyone shares the same sleep cycles, so forcing two people to share a bedtime will leave one or both chronically sleep deprived. One of the triggers you need to fall asleep is a drop in core body temperature. Sharing a bed with someone increases body heat so it will take longer to fall asleep.”

So what is a 'sleep divorce' and how can it affect a relationship?

“Sleep divorce is the term used to describe two partners who co-sleep then making the choice to sleep in separate beds, and in some cases separate rooms,” Counselling Directory member and sex therapist, Rebecca Harrison previously told Yahoo UK.

The benefits of this will differ depending on the partners; but the main reason people opt for a sleep divorce is that it improves quality of sleep.

“It's worth stating that the term 'sleep divorce' is loaded; the word 'divorce' seems to imply that sleeping apart is equivalent to ending the relationship, which it absolutely isn't. It also implies that there's a permanence to the arrangement – whereas you can sleep apart and sleep together whenever you like.”

Watch: How to improve your sleep

The way a sleep divorce affects a relationship is as unique as the relationship itself. Harrison notes that the main concern from critics is that sleeping in a separate bedroom from your partner can limit the chances for spontaneous sexual intimacy.

“If these forms of intimacy feature in your morning or night-time routine, then it's worth having a conversation about how you're going to maintain these forms of intimacy once you are sleeping apart,” she adds.

It’s also worth noting that a sleep divorce isn’t possible for everyone. A lot of people don’t have the luxury of having an extra room to sleep in and, while a sofa is always an option, it’s certainly not a permanent solution.

Read more: What the position you sleep in says about your relationship, Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read

Is a sleep divorce right for you?

Before deciding to sleep apart, Harrison says it’s worth having a conversation with your partner about whether a sleep divorce would have a positive or negative impact on your relationship.

“As a sex therapist, I'd be interested in what could be behind the term 'problem sleeper'. Is there an aspect of the relationship that isn't working for someone? Is it a desire for more privacy or alone time? How does each partner feel about sexual and non-sexual intimacy in the relationship, and would sleeping apart have a positive or negative impact on this?” Harrison adds.

“But if each partner wants to sleep apart, and that desire is coming from a healthy place, why not? If everyone in the relationship enthusiastically consents to the arrangement, then it's right for you. Sleep apart, sleep together, sleep wherever you like – it's your relationship.”