The Benefits of Sleeping Alone

Sleeping solo

Ever watch re-runs of I Love Lucy and wonder why Lucy and Desi slept in separate beds? It might seem silly that the iconic characters of long ago didn’t share a bed, but maybe they knew something we didn’t. Maybe they were big fans of getting a great night’s sleep.

Establishing your very own sleep space might just be the golden ticket satisfying your sleep needs.

Historically, partners sharing a bed is a relatively new concept. The ancient Romans believed that the only time two people should share a bed was to do the other “S” thing we do in bed. Queen Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI of France had separate sleeping quarters in the Palace of Versailles as did other prominent monarchs.  It wasn’t until the industrial revolution, as families began moving into the cities, that marital partners began to sleep in the same bed together (due to lack of space).

Sleeping alone top 10

To all you solo snoozers, those who’s other half may be on an overnight hiatus from sharing the sheets, and to those who find themselves facing many nights alone after a break up – this is for you. Avoid bedroom arguments over hogging the sheets, snoring, rolling to the wrong side of the bed and being touched by cold feet, here are our top 10 reasons why sleeping alone can be bliss

1. Say NO to noise – Snoring, coughing, sneezing, loud breathing; all things you have the potential to hear and keep you awake
    when sharing your bed. When you sleep alone, you will be the only one snoring and you can’t hear that when you are sleeping soundly.
2. Temperature regulation – Body heat and cold feet. Whether your snuggle buddy sleeps hot or cold, if their desired sleep temperature is opposite yours, you may be forced to compromise. When it comes to sleep, do you really want to compromise? One sleeper, one temp, one great night’s sleep.
3. Roll over and stretch – Being able to stretch yourself out across your bed sounds like freedom to us. When you don’t have to share the mattress, there’s nothing in your way, you can wiggle, toss yourself around, flip yourself over and kick off your covers – anything you want to do to get comfortable through the night. Of course, if you find yourself moving around that much every night to get comfortable, it may be time for a new mattress.
4. Sleep schedules – If you and your sleep companion have mismatched body clocks, a serious sleep struggle may ensue. A night owl and a morning bird can keep each other from reaching their desired amount of sleep. The owl keeping up the bird when the moon is high in the sky and the bird chirping as the sun rises makes for one grumpy owl in the morning. When you’re the only invite to your bed, you can be the owl or you can be the bird, whichever works for you.
5. Fashion freedom – If you want to wear your favorite, smelly sweatshirt with the mustard stain from last week, no one will judge you. Sleeping sans pajamas won’t send any mixed signals to a sleeping partner and you can snooze in the buff in peace.
6. Smells – Nothing is worse than waking up to stinky morning breath in your face, or a partner who says good morning by passing gas.
   When you wake up in bed alone, the only bad smell you need to worry about is your own and we can all stand the smell of our own brand.
7. Blanket battles –Tossing and turning, pulling and burning up. Trying to regulate your sleep environment temperature and comfort can be a constant battle when you share the sheets. No more yanking and tugging when the blankets are yours alone.
8. Bedroom etiquette –You don’t have to be a lady or a gentlemen when you sleep unaccompanied. Simply follow the rule my grandfather taught me that can hold true for you too, “wherever thy be, let the wind blow free!” Burp, fart, drool, snore, all those thing that would annoy you if someone else did them while you were trying to sleep. Do them all. There is no one there to stop you. Enjoy the freedom without feeling the guilt or stomach ache of holding in what’s natural.
9. Sleep anywhere, anytime – Sleep sideways, upside down, starfish in the middle of the mattress or pass out on the couch during your Netflix binge. No sleeping pal, no rules. The freedoms are endless.
10. Bad habits are welcome – When you don’t have to share your bed, the possibilities are infinite. You can eat in bed, stretch out from end to end, clean your sheets whenever you want, wear your favorite smelly t-shirt to sleep in, or let one rip under the covers guilt free. You’re a loan sleep soldier, ready for the war. The only enemy you have to battle is yourself to make sure you get enough sleep.

Still not convinced? Take a peek at this video to understand why you should love to sleep alone.