“Physical closeness with a partner while in bed can stimulate the release of oxytocin, which has been shown to promote a sense of calm and relaxation, which may benefit sleep,” says Dr. Troxel. This release of sleep-promoting oxytocin can take place regardless of any intimate acts between the two of you.
Boosting estrogen levels in women, which helps promote deeper sleep. Being physically close to the one you love means your brain will release oxytocin, the "love hormone" and serotonin, the "happy hormone."
Improved sleep duration and efficiency: Research shows us that sleeping next to a partner is linked to increased sleep duration, higher sleep efficiency, and better sleep quality overall. 2 Getting a good night's sleep helps reduce stress and boosts restorative functions.
"Sleeping with a romantic partner or spouse shows to have great benefits on sleep health including reduced sleep apnea risk, sleep insomnia severity, and overall improvement in sleep quality," said lead author Brandon Fuentes, undergraduate researcher in the department of psychiatry at the University of Arizona.
So, why can't you sleep when your partner is away? It's simple - you're used to sleeping together, and the absence of their physical presence can throw off your routine. For most couples, once they fall into a routine of sleeping together every night, it's very hard to sleep without their partner.
Being in a healthy relationship has several benefits, and one of these is that your snoozing hours are peaceful and uninterrupted every night. According to a study published in the journal of Social Psychological and Personal Science, people tend to sleep better if they feel their partner is responsive to their needs.
Oxytocin is another chemical that's released during love-making. This complex hormone actually decreases the amount of cortisol in the body. This is good for sleep because cortisol is the body's fight-or-flight hormone.
Bedtime couple intimate activities include cuddling, massaging, kissing, and making love. Sleeping habits are also essential for couples, and couples should lie down together whenever possible.
'Sharing a bed may also reduce cytokines, involved in inflammation, and boost oxytocin, the so-called love hormone that is known to ease anxiety and is produced in the same part of the brain responsible for the sleep-wake cycle, suggested the WSJ.
When you sleep next to someone you love, the body releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin and serotonin, making you even more sleepy. If you're all loved up in bed—sharing kisses, cuddling, and spending intimate time—your body will release these love hormones.
— Whether you're spooning or on the opposite side of the bed, adults sleep better together than they do alone, research shows. The benefits of sharing the bed with a partner include less insomnia, less fatigue and more time asleep as well as nodding off quicker.
It's All about the “Cuddle Chemical.”
Levels of oxytocin rise when we make physical contact with another human being. So when you hop into bed and spoon with your honey or take it to the next level of intimacy, the chemical is released and you feel calm and protected.
People are taking to social media to talk about "sleep divorces," the idea of sleeping separately from your partner to get a better night's sleep. On TikTok, there are more than 355,000 views for the hashtag #sleepdivorce — and experts say there can be potential benefits.
“There's no rule out there saying couples have to sleep in the same bedroom,” says Dr. Peggy Loo, a New York State licensed psychologist and the director of Manhattan Therapy Collective. “What matters most is whether the arrangement is by mutual agreement or somehow in service of the relationship,” she explains.
“Testosterone hormone is secreted at night and rises in certain stages of sleep,” Dr Brewer explains. “If a man feels too hot and his sleep is disturbed as a result, his testosterone production may be reduced. Sleeping naked helps to promote a healthier sleep pattern, so normal testosterone production occurs.”
Sharing a sleep schedule with your significant other helps build intimacy between you two. Not just sexual intimacy, but an emotional connection as well. Laying in bed together encourages communication between partners, whether it's discussing their worries or concerns, or just the day's events.
By wearing a bra to bed, which is wrapped firmly around the ribcage, your ribs can't fully and freely expand. Sleeping in a bra can make your breathing more labored and shallow, lowering your usual intake of oxygen. On the other hand, sleeping without a bra better allows you to breathe (and rest) easy.
Cuddling before bed could produce benefits, such as oxytocin release. Sometimes called the “love hormone,” oxytocin is associated with bonding and trust. Higher levels of oxytocin have also been linked to falling asleep more quickly and staying asleep overnight, according to Penn Medicine.
Hugging and other forms of nonsexual touching cause your brain to release oxytocin, known as the "bonding hormone." This stimulates the release of other feel-good hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, while reducing stress hormones, such as cortisol and norepinephrine.
This study reveals that about 60% of American couples sleep together. These numbers include all kinds of couples; heterosexual, same-sex, old, and even ailing couples. Also, married older American adults (who go to bed with their partners) report longer sleep duration.
How much sex should a couple have? Once a week is a common baseline, experts say. That statistic depends slightly on age: 40- and 50-year-olds tend to fall around that baseline, while 20- to 30-year olds tend to average around twice a week.
Couples of all types — straight, gay, young, old, healthy couples or those facing illness — experience all sorts of challenges when it comes to the shared sleep experience. Over 60 percent of us are sleeping together, according to one study done in the US.
Lick your partner's lips to make them warm and then blow on them to make them cold. Do exactly that: Suck on your partner's lower lip while kissing to break up your usual routine. Slightly nibble on your partner's lips while kissing. Take it slow and easy to determine a pleasurable, not painful, amount of pressure.
Whilst it is expected in long-term relationships for attraction amongst partners to decrease in the context of real life, most couples are able to rekindle some of that spark under the right conditions including sufficient time, feeling relaxed and having a romantic setting.