The Scandinavian Sleep Method May Just Be The Secret To Better Rest
When you transition from solo sleeping to sharing a bed, it can be quite a process to develop a new, shared sleep style that's comfortable for both parties. Sometimes, there is no perfect middle ground, and amid all the tossing and turning, you're left weighing the pros and cons of sharing a bed at all. On the one hand, cuddling and skin-to-skin contact can be an easy way to build connection and trust with your bedmate. And emotionally speaking, a study in the journal Sleep suggests that sleeping with a partner or spouse can be good for your mental health.
However, other studies have shown that sharing your bed with another person can adversely impact your rest. On top of the nightly blanket tug-of-war that can come from sharing your slumber zone, a poll from the National Sleep Foundation reports that 26% of respondents lose rest due to their partner's sleep problems. So if your bedmate suffers from issues like snoring, insomnia, or restless leg syndrome, it could end up leaving both of you tired and cranky.
With all this conflicting evidence, what's the answer to better sleep? Should you keep spooning your partner every night, or resort to separate accommodations à la "I Love Lucy"? Before you sell your king-size mattress and buy a pair of twin beds, there may be something else you can try for better rest: a trendy bedtime approach known as the Scandinavian sleep method.