Valentine’s Day might be the most romantic holiday of the year, but there’s no greater buzzkill than a tired, irritable partner who starts nodding off halfway through your candlelit dinner. Worse yet is having to change bedrooms in the middle of the night because your partner is snoring (again!). This Valentine’s Day, re-invest in your relationship by improving your ability to get a good night’s sleep … as a couple … in the same bedroom.
COUPLES KISS AND TELL ABOUT HOW SNORING IMPACTS THEIR LOVE LIFE
In a National Sleep Foundation study, one third of respondents admitted their partner’s disruptive sleep habits have affected their relationship quality. Two in five said that drowsiness affected their intimate relationships. And, when one or both snore, about 30 percent of couples say they sleep apart. Even outside the bedroom, scientific research has also shown that lack of sleep may make couples feel less appreciative of each other, and to experience greater feelings of selfishness.
THREE EASY WAYS TO AWAKEN REFRESHED AND IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP
1. Ban your phones and tablets from the bedroom. Bedtime should be about couple time and getting a good night’s rest, not scrolling through Snapchat and Facebook. Besides, tech devices emit a blue light that inhibits production of melatonin, your sleep hormone.
2. Try an over-the-counter nasal dilator to stop the snoring. Snoring is often due to mouth breathing as a result of a blocked nose. An easy-to-use device, such as Mute, comfortably opens up the nose and increases airflow which minimizes snoring for many people. (If Mute doesn’t quiet the problem, it’s time to consult a healthcare professional.)
3. Cave in. Maintain an optimal sleep environment by keeping your bedroom dark, cool and quiet: much like a cave. Turn down your thermostat to between 60 and 67 degrees, a temperature range that encourages deep REM sleep. If there’s unavoidable noise — such as the neighbor’s barking dog or street traffic — try using a white noise machine. The constant background sound will make sudden noises less disruptive. And if your mattress sinks in the middle, or you are constantly fluffing your pillows, it may be time to replace them.
This February 14, make sure you are both wide awake enough to enjoy every romantic minute, and that you’re also doing something to nurture your relationship long after the candy’s been eaten and the flowers have wilted. You may look back at Valentine’s Day 2018 with added sentimentality, as the night when better sleep got a whole lot easier.
