On Sleeping

Sleeping together in one bed is considered one of the most beautiful things in life. Nobody wants to sleep alone really. Most babies protest and cry when bedtime but do not object if one parent lay down with them; teenagers invite their friends to stay over for the night, and couples (married or not) cherish their king-size bed where they crawl into together at the end of the day. In terms of caring and daring, making and shaking realtionship, sharing beds is priceless.

But what about the quality of the sleep? The magazine Der Spiegel | Wissen (No 4/2009) points out that research on sleep has proved that due to different sleep pattern as well as genetically determined sleep mechanisms, individuals would be required to sleep alone in order to have the restorative sleep that is needed. And yet, despite scientific proof, couples claim to sleep better with their partners. It seems as if sharing beds was an expression of closeness and feeling of security, amongst westerners at least. Notwithstanding fights for the duvet, snoring, being kicked or pushed away, nobody is thinking of having separate beds, especially not women, who wake easier and more often, according to research. Sharing beds seems vital for overall well-being and quality of relationships. The quality of sleep and even sex come second and third.....