Sleep Easy With Our Tips For Adjusting To Sharing A Bed With A New Partner
One of the many exciting things about a new relationship can be those early sleepovers. As you learn more about your new partner, sleeping next to each other can be an intimate way to feel more connected. However, while you probably want to be close to your new partner during the day, the last thing you want is to be too close to your partner when you're trying to sleep. Incompatible sleeping habits and needs can not only cause bad sleep and exhaustion but can ultimately lead to fractures in a new relationship. Between different temperature requirements, schedules, and sensory comforts, it can be hard to find the right balance between both of your sleep needs.
Before you let exhaustion win, consider compromises that could better help you and your partner sleep through the night. Conflicting sleep schedules do not have to be the death of your relationship. Between new textiles in bedding to the wide availability of personal electronics, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating a custom sleep experience. We all know that sleep is incredibly important for both your mental and physical health, so do yourself (and your partner) a favor by prioritizing sleep. Let's explore some tips and ideas to ensure you lovebirds get a good night's rest.
Get a personal portable fan
Between the noise, potential for allergies, and general sensory feeling about circulating air, people either love or hate a fan at night. This can create issues between partners with differing opinions on fans, particularly if one partner is a hot sleeper. While a fan might serve one half of the partnership, it could lead to issues for the other half. Luckily, very small portable personal fans are increasingly available and serve as the perfect way to compromise.
While some are battery-operated, others can be recharged like a phone. Even better, some of these small fans do double duty as lights which can be great if one person likes to read in bed at night. Utilizing one of these small personal fans on a nightstand (or even around your headboard if you get one with a clip or adjustable/wrappable arms) can ensure that one partner receives the circulating air they need to help keep them cool without disturbing the other.
Invest in different bedding
There are absolutely no rules that mandate that you and your partner have to share the same bedding. With that in mind, get the bedding that works best for the way you personally sleep. Whether that means cool-tech fabric blankets if you're a hot sleeper, or maybe even a weighted blanket for those with anxiety, finding the bedding that fits your (and your partner's) individual needs will ensure a better night's rest for both of you. This is especially important if you and your partner have different sleeping habits and needs.
This isn't to say you can't still have a nice duvet or comforter on top for the sake of bedroom aesthetics, but there is no need to let décor dictate the quality of your sleep. By having separate bedding, you also don't have to deal with any potential blanket-hogging behavior. Each of you can ensure you achieve the right temperature and sensory requirements you need to feel well-rested in the morning.
Consider a bigger bed
Sometimes a full-size mattress just isn't going to cut it and that's ok. A new partner could be the perfect excuse to invest in a larger bed. Having more space can ensure you both sleep better and are more well-rested, making you more likely to enjoy each other's company come morning. A bigger bed can be especially necessary if one (or both) of you are side sleepers or enjoy spreading out at night. Rather than bumping into each other and waking the other one up, more space could allow you to sleep soundly in whatever position you prefer.
Further down the road, it could even be worth considering a split king which is comprised of two separate mattresses next to each other. These split beds ensure you don't jostle or wake up your partner when you get in bed (or if you have to get up in the night). Plus, they allow for personalized sheets on either side for the ultimate custom bed experience between two partners.
Try a night light
It's actually quite normal for partners to keep different hours (as long as no one is participating in revenge bedtime procrastination that is), especially in a new relationship where you haven't necessarily blended your two schedules yet. If you or your partner keep later hours at night than the other, investing in a night light can be a helpful way to make sure the night owl doesn't end up causing more noise by bumping into things. It can also help expedite the getting-in-bed process by ensuring visibility for important before-bed rituals like plugging in your phone or applying a lip mask.
Ultimately, a more seamless going-to-bed process can help ensure less disruption to the early riser already in bed. Similarly, investing in a white noise or sound machine can also help lead to less disruption during the night, especially if one of you is a light sleeper. Creating a sleep environment that you both can feel rested from is not only important for your personal well-being but also for the health of your relationship.