We all like to have the whole bed all to ourselves just for our own comfort and relaxation, yet it is not uncommon to feel lonely and cold in it. Although sharing your mattress with someone you care about can take up space in your bed, it will also bring you amazing benefits. Just like the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat, sleep is an essential part of life. But of all those things, sleep is probably what we don’t get enough of, be it quality or quantity. But studies show that if you’ve got someone lying next to you, there are some benefits. So even if you’re sharing a bed with a snorer, kicker and/or blanket-stealer, it still might be better than no one at all.
Sleeping next to someone can change your life, help you get good quality sleep, improve your relationship, and much more. There are many reasons why you should sleep next to someone, and here are some of them:
You Experience Better Sleep Quality
We all strive for good sleep quality, but we don’t always get it, especially if we’re laying there on our own. Did you know that sleeping beside someone, especially if you’re in a solid relationship, is a good way to help you on your path to good quality slumber? Wendy M. Troxel, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, unearthed that women in stable relationships fell asleep faster and had less sleep disturbances in the night than single women, or those whose relationship status changed during the experiment.
It Makes You Feel Safe
You know how kids like to sleep next to their parents because they are afraid of the dark? That's because they feel safe with them. Sleeping next to someone makes you feel safe, so it reduces the chances of having nightmares. Hugging someone during sleep improves our quality of sleep. If you sleep next to your partner you will feel calm and peaceful--much more than when you sleep alone.
It Makes You Happier
Need a little happiness in your life? Then sleep next to the person you love! If you’re sharing the bed with someone you like on a nightly basis, it makes you happier as it releases dopamine (responsible for feeling pleasure) and serotonin
(known as “happy chemical”)
in the body, which improves your mood and makes you laugh. According to the article in Women’s Health Magazine, touching someone releases dopamine and serotonin, and once serotonin is produced, it can be converted into melatonin by the body. Melatonin is a hormone that influences the sleep/wake cycle. You will fall asleep faster and wake up happier.
It Improves Your Immune System
When we catch a cold, we usually spend time in bed sleeping and resting. Sleeping helps us recover and fight the cold. But sharing blanket with your partner can improve your immune system. As reported by scientists from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, sexually active partners are more resistant to common colds and the flu because they produce more antibodies. But even cuddling will provide you with oxytocin and will boost your T-regulatory cells – key ingredients for keeping your immune system strong. So, fall asleep hugging your partner and you will be healthier.
It Lowers Your Blood Pressure
For people with cardiovascular problems, sleeping next to someone can be great for improving their health. Sleeping next to someone in bed can lower your blood pressure. In agreement with the research done by the University of North Carolina, which recruited 59 women ages 20–49 who had been living with a spouse or monogamous partner for at least six months, those who said they got more cuddles with their partners generally had higher oxytocin levels.
Researchers checked their oxytocin levels and blood pressure regularly. Those with the highest level of oxytocin had the lowest blood pressure. So, if you've had a stressful day, sleep next to your partner.
It Provides A More Restorative Sleep
If you're next to someone you love and are attracted to, you are likely to indulge in a little... let's say non-sleep time and when that happens, it can boost oestrogen levels in women, thus leading to a deeper slumber while oxytocin in men is released, resulting in some serious fatigue. Basically, it's like eating a giant turkey dinner without the calories.
It Can Strengthen A Relationship
When it comes to relationships and happiness, it appears that those who cuddle through the night are much more likely to feel a stronger connection in their relationships. A University of Hertfordshire survey revealed that 86% of couples that slept within an inch of one another were happy in their relationships, whilst only 66% of couples who slept with more than 30 inches between them could say the same. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t feel like having your own space in bed; after all everyone’s sleep requirements are different.
It Relieves Stress
Not only does physical touch strengthen connections, but things like cuddling together, enjoying each other’s company also plays a role. Cosy weighted blanket can greatly reduce stress. How? By the release of oxytocin also known as the
“love hormone.”
Oxytocin is the hormone that is released when two people cuddle and its calming properties will allow you to better handle stress. Cuddling can also decrease cortisol levels which are responsible for stress and will leave people feeling happier and less anxious. While you’re in bed with your partner, sometimes cuddling can lead to more intimate activities.Sexual intercourse between couples can release endorphins that are necessary when it comes to limiting stress. Reducing stress is in your best interest as it can do everything from preventing you from getting sick often to improving sexual performance issues like erectile dysfunction. While you can take medications for ED, or buy some over-the-counter cold and flu medicine, why do so if a cuddle session is all you need.
Reduces Anxiety
Anxiety can totally ruin a good night’s sleep. It is believed that skin-to-skin contact while in bed can reduce anxiety and therefore, aid a better nights rest. Often, light sleepers will benefit from having their partner dozing off next to them as this brings a sense of safety and security while at their most vulnerable.
All Kinds Of Health Benefits
Sleeping next to your life companion doesn't just provide romance but health benefits too. It can reduce inflammation (because of lesser cortisol levels) and improve your immune system (research found that sexually active partners are more resistant to common colds and the flu because they produced more antibodies).
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