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Topics: Sleep, Health, Mental Health, NHS, News, Sex and Relationships
Olivia Burke
Topics: Sleep, Health, Mental Health, NHS, News, Sex and Relationships
It's a debate as old as time...how much sleep do us humans actually need?
Snoozing is the only time we get a complete break from the rat race we call life while allowing our bodies and brains to recharge, but dozing off isn't always as easy as slipping on an eye mask and shoving your head into the pillow.
There's plenty of factors that can affect the quality of our sleep - maybe a load of lorries pass by your bedroom window on a nightly basis, or perhaps your nervous system is just still completely wired from all the caffeine you've swigged.
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Or maybe, it's something to do with the person you are sharing a bed with.
It wouldn't be that surprising if this is the issue which is to blame for the lack of shut-eye you're dealing with, as a host of couples are in the same boat - which is why there has been a spike in the number of 'sleep divorces' of late.
Even Cameron Diaz is doing it, and she reckons that we need to 'normalise' it too.
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For those who don't have a clue what I'm talking about, a sleep divorce simply refers to couples choosing to have individual sleeping arrangements rather than snuggling up together each night.
Each party has the freedom to have their own bed or even their own room, can even decide their own bedtimes and doesn't have to put up with all the annoying things their partner does while they are dreaming.
According to research conducted last year by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), a whopping 29 percent of US residents are opting to sleep separately from their partners.
Speaking about the startling results, pulmonologist and AASM spokesperson Dr Seema Khosla said: "We know that poor sleep can worsen your mood, and those who are sleep deprived are more likely to argue with their partners.
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"There may be some resentment toward the person causing the sleep disruption which can negatively impact relationships," she explained.
"Getting a good night’s sleep is important for both health and happiness, so it’s no surprise that some couples choose to sleep apart for their overall wellbeing."
The hashtag 'sleep divorce' also has over a million views on TikTok, with Google searches for the term also skyrocketing in the last month or so - and really, can we blame people for prioritising their beauty sleep over being the little spoon?
Do whatever works for you, but by God, please make sure you're getting enough shut-eye either way.
According to the NHS, each individual requires 'different amounts of sleep', but a healthy adult typically gets their head down for around 7 to 9 hours each night.
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But what does a bloke on the inside have to say about all this?
Social media medical guru and NHS surgeon Dr Karan Rajan previously reminded us all that there are plenty of elements which can affect your sleep - whether it's your partner or health problems.
And thankfully, he gave us a ballpark to work with as well as a tip to determine how much we specifically need tool.
He explained: "Whilst the vast majority of people probably do need between seven to nine hours of sleep, a small number may need more and some people may even need less.
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"Your sleep requirement goes beyond gender. It is influenced by your lifestyle, exercise levels, your age, your weight and importantly your biology and genetics."
Dr Rajan recommends heading to bed without setting an alarm when you don't have anywhere to be the next morning and seeing how long you end up sleeping for.
From there, you can work out if your usual sleeping schedule which is impacted by work and social events is actually enough, or whether your body is begging you to get into bed earlier.
It's at least an excuse to have a lovely lie in while telling people pestering you to wake up that it's for scientific purposes - or it might be the final nail in the coffin which causes you to initiate a sleep divorce with your other half.