{"id":5816,"date":"2019-11-13T07:39:50","date_gmt":"2019-11-13T12:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.silvercentury.org\/?p=5816"},"modified":"2019-11-13T07:39:50","modified_gmt":"2019-11-13T12:39:50","slug":"divorced-by-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/78.142.243.82\/~silvercentury\/2019\/11\/divorced-by-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Divorced by Night"},"content":{"rendered":"

While visiting a friend who was convalescing postsurgery, I noticed that the king-sized bed she shares with her husband is actually a pair of twin beds under a single bedspread. She says they always go to bed at the same time but don\u2019t go to sleep or wake at the same time. (I see you, headphones.) The two-bed system allows her to have the softer mattress she likes, and they add or remove blankets to suit their personal thermostats. She says it saved her marriage. <\/span><\/p>\n

I like to joke that I have a 22-foot bed: four cats, one dog and me. Given that fact, I can\u2019t claim to sleep alone, can I? But I have been out of a marital bed for over a decade. I sometimes miss the snuggling, but no one hogs the covers. My bulldog snores, but I\u2019m used to it; my restless legs irritate the cats, but we manage. I believe that if my living situation changed to incorporate a human, I might want to keep my own bed. I\u2019d be in good company.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was surprised to learn that many couples sleep apart, having found that they simply sleep better in separate beds or even separate rooms. For some, it\u2019s not just falling asleep in a shared bed that\u2019s a challenge but staying asleep. Many people my age and older get up to use the bathroom during the night. The bed\u2019s movement and lights going on could disrupt someone else\u2019s good night\u2019s sleep as well. And snoring can be an issue. That happens because as we age, we tend to lose muscle tone in our upper airways and gain weight in the neck area, due to lifestyle changes or menopause. If it\u2019s your partner who snores, you may no longer be able to sleep through it as you did when you were younger. Snorers often rely on machines that in themselves make co-sleeping a feat. <\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re learning more about the importance of quality sleep. When sleep is compromised, that impacts the way adults function and their cognitive performance, and it can take a toll on mood as well. Getting seven to nine hours each night is recommended, with studies showing improved health, including a reduction in cardiovascular disease, stress levels, inflammation and depression. Your body is better able to regulate appetite, repair itself and keep a positive attitude.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some couples choose separate sleeping spaces for weekdays but not weekends, which may be better suited for intimacy. A nightly uncoupling could be just what your relationship needs to reignite a longing for one another. It\u2019s hard to feel romantic when you\u2019re exhausted. <\/span><\/p>\n

As for me, I\u2019ve noticed that some mornings when I awake, my dog has left the bed for the living room chair. I guess my snoring is keeping her from a good night\u2019s sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While visiting a friend who was convalescing postsurgery, I noticed that the king-sized bed she shares with her husband is actually a pair of twin beds under a single bedspread. She says they always go to bed at the same…<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Divorced by Night<\/span> ›<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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