Your Side Of The Bed Or Mine?

Your Side of the Bed or Mine?

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

Okay, ladies, this one’s for you.

Science has finally confirmed what you’ve long known: your own husband, who snores and tosses and turns at night, can significantly compromise your sleep. A study at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, found that when men who have sleep apnea (a condition commonly associated with snoring in which breathing stops periodically during sleep) wore a device that helped them breathe at night, the continuity of their wives’ sleep improved 13 percent—they got the equivalent of an extra sixty-two minutes of shut-eye a night.

But that’s not all. When researchers at Loughborough University in England kept track of how forty-six couples moved their bodies as they slept, they found that women were disturbed by their partners’ movements more frequently than men were.

We’re not trying to start a fight here. But if you’re like the typical couple and wanting to improve your quality of sleep, we want you to be aware of a couple of coping strategies for both of you during your pillow talk tonight. First off, experts say you can aim for better snooze control by encouraging your spouse to avoid alcohol, caffeine, heavy meals, and exercise within a few hours of bedtime. These preventive measures may help him sleep more soundly and move around less, which means you’ll do the same. And if you are a snorer, sleep on your side, instead of your back, to reduce your snore potential.

Let’s face it, men and women are different—even in how we sleep. Husbands and wives survive and thrive based on how well we flex, cope, and care for one another in the midst of our differences. At times that can be trying, but it’s precisely what builds a better marriage, especially in the bedroom.

Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.

—Anthony Burgess