The Case for Not Sharing a Bed

Holly Allen would beg to differ with the idea that the happiest couples sleep less than an inch apart. She recently found herself going to bed in her own guest room when her husband was sick, and despite the fact that the room only has a twin bed, she had an incredible night's sleep, she writes on Slate. "No tug of war over the covers, no pokes in the back to alert me to my snoring, no waking up to a wiggly kid (or two) in bed with us. In fact, no waking up at all." An informal survey of her co-workers found many of them agree with her—so why do couples typically share a bed?

Initially, we did so for "warmth and security," but that was a long time ago, before blankets and alarm systems. Nowadays, "society" is to blame for the fact that most of us feel compelled to sleep together even though we're probably not getting very good, you know, sleep. "Mention separate beds today and most people assume marital troubles," Allen writes. But chronic bad sleep has been linked to serious health problems, both physical and mental. "Why must we risk these things just to prove to ourselves that we are happy couples? Separate beds means better sleep, which in turn can produce healthier spouses and a happier marriage. I rest my case." Click for Allen's full column. (More sleep stories.)