I don’t know about you but I would definitely benefit from getting more sleep. (Walking #mombie over here!) I don’t hide the fact that I don’t usually get enough sleep… and it’s totally unhealthy! It not only affects me but those around me, too — especially my husband and kids.
What?! you may ask. How can one’s lack of sleep affect other people? One’s marriage even?
Well, the people over at Sleep Advisor have collaborated with Truly Rich and Blessed to share exactly how through this article below. I hope you will find it helpful!
3 Reasons Why Sleep Is Important for a Happy Marriage
Sleep, glorious sleep. In a divided world one thing connects us all – our love for sleep.
We all know that good sleep is good for our health but did you also know that good sleep can actually be good for your love life? In fact, a growing body of evidence suggests good quality sleep could be the secret to a happy marriage.
It seems that many of the problems commonly associated with a failing relationship can actually be caused or, at the very least, exacerbated by how our brains and bodies react when sleep-deprived.
So, for the sake of your current or future relationship, read on as we look at just 3 ways sleep is an important aspect of a happy marriage…
1. Sleep changes the way couples argue.
Disagreements are of course a healthy and important aspect of any marriage. But they are a risk. When we argue things can be said that can sometimes never be taken back.
Sleep deprivation makes individuals short-tempered, unable to empathize, and reduces their ability to concentrate. Basically, the classic ingredients for an argument. And just as you’d expect – sleep-deprived couples have far more arguments.
Now, that’s not to say that a good night’s sleep prevents all arguments happening. Of course not. But sleep, or lack thereof, does however shape what type of arguments couples may have and limit the negative impact they have on a relationship.
A study by Ohio State University discovered that couples who both slept badly had more hostile arguments compared to couples who slept well.
Couples where both partners slept well still had disagreements but they were shown to be less destructive in nature. Arguments between the well-rested often involved less-barbed language, covered more constructive topics, and importantly often ended with reconciliation.
These so-called ‘productive’ rows involved both sides listening to each other, a sense of humour, and an ability to see the other’s point of view. The sleep-deprived couples had ‘destructive’ arguments, where the exact opposite happened.
2. Sleep improves our sense of humour.
One thing any good marriage needs is humour. Sharing the ups and downs of your life with someone is hard and if you can’t share a joke at each other’s expense, hostility will build and eventually burst out in acrimony – like a pan boiling over.
If your partner suddenly isn’t as funny as they used to be, chances are it is not that their jokes are getting worse – just that you are too tired to appreciate them as you used to.
It has been discovered that our own sense of humour is not a static characteristic. Things we find funny one day we might not the next. And the reason for this could be a lack of sleep.
Humour relies on high level cognition and a lack of sleep inhibits this. A lack of sleep slows how quickly our synapses react and how quickly neurological connections are made. In particular, a lack of sleep impacts our ability appreciate verbal humour, such as your partner’s witty one liners.
3. Sleep makes us more attractive.
When that spark goes out of a relationship it can be hard to rekindle it. But one way to ensure the embers continue to burn is to sleep well. Sleep, it seems, keeps us looking our best. It is after all called ‘beauty sleep’ for a reason.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but when you are sleep-deprived you simple don’t look your best. Bags under your eyes, red and swollen eyelids, paler skin, more wrinkles, and a drooping mouth are just some of the signs of sleep-deprivation.
A team of researchers from Sweden showed participants photos of sleep-deprived individuals alongside pictures of well-rested people – and unsurprisingly the sleep-deprived group were judged to be not only less attractive but also less healthy.
And while we all know the recipe to a healthy marriage is so much more than physical attraction, it is one of the ingredients. And like every other aspect of a good relationship it takes work to maintain it.
Final thoughts
So there you have it, the secret to a happy marriage could be something as simple as having a longer lie in or getting a better mattress.
A well-rested person is basically a better partner to their spouse. Simple as that. A large body of research suggests that the sleep-deprived amongst us are often unpleasant, ruder, and more hostile. When well-rested, we are the opposite. We are patient, happier, funnier, more empathetic, and more attractive.
Unfortunately, in today’s fast-paced modern world sleep is often the one thing we sacrifice the most easily. However, for the sake of your marriage it may be time to start rethinking how you treat your bedtime.
For more advice on how to get the sleep your marriage deserves check out the hints and tips from the experts on the Sleep Advisor blog.
