Sleep is a vital aspect of human life. You need sleep if you are going to survive in this world. It’s just as important as eating, drinking, and breathing. Of course, you are probably most knowledgeable about all of these things and that’s why you’re still alive right now. But you would be surprised to know that there are still plenty of things that you have yet to learn about the science of sleep and how it really affects your body.
You should know by now that sleep is very much essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, do you know what “restorative sleep” is? It is a state of sleeping wherein the body’s brain waves are regulated and the brain engages in a form of self-repair and restoration. And you are most likely to achieve restorative sleep whenever you feel a sense of safety, security, and protection as you are about to drift off into your slumber. In the formative years, this is achieved whenever you feel a sense of protection in the arms of your parents.
But now that you’re older, it’s likely that you are going to gain this sense of safety and security from your significant other. Based on the research conducted by a developmental and social psychologist, Dr. Emre Selcuk, having a romantic partner you can rely on is the best way to curb any tension, stress or anxiety in your life. He says that’s why people who are in very intimate romantic relationships with partners who are reliable are people who tend to sleep better at night. He published his findings in a paper he wrote for the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.
To add on to that, other findings conducted by experts in the field have concluded that the health benefits of sleeping next to someone you love at night vastly outweigh the minor inconveniences and hassles. You might be sharing a bed with someone who snores a lot. You might be frustrated with having to sleep with someone who keeps on stealing most of your blanket. However, you should know that sleeping next to someone you love is still ultimately going to be good for you. Studies have affirmed that romantic partners who consistently sleep next to each other have shown longer lifespans as compared to those who are always sleeping alone.
According to Dr. Wendy Troxel, an assistant professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, here is some serious truth to this idea. There are some very prominent psychological benefits that trump the costs of having to sleep next to someone in bed.
Dr. Troxel conducted a study that spanned more than 10 years. And she found out that women who were in stable and healthy relationships tended to fall asleep quicker and easier than those who were single or n unhappy relationships. The studies also found that it was less likely for these women to wake up in the middle of the night as well.
But if you still need some convincing, then just read the rest of this article. Here are some undeniable benefits to falling asleep next to the person you love.
1. You feel safer and more secure.
It’s always going to be a lot more comforting to be sleeping in the arms of the one you love.
2. You fall asleep much quicker.
Since you are a lot more relaxed, it makes it easier for you to just fall asleep at night.
3. Your anxiety is more relieved.
Being with the one you love is always going to lower your anxiety and stress in life.
4. Sleeping with your loved one can serve as a natural painkiller.
When you are sleeping with the one you love, certain chemicals in the body get released that make chronic pain easier to bear.
5. You become more energetic when you wake up.
Since your quality of sleep improves, you are bound to feel infinitely more energetic the moment you wake up in the morning.
6. You get some serious “beauty sleep”.
When you sleep with the person you love, you have reduced levels of stress and anxiety. And that means your body is doing a more efficient job at regenerating and rejuvenating your beauty cells.
7. You get reduced blood pressure.
Less stress and anxiety in your life is always going to mean that you will be in a more relaxed state. Therefore, your blood pressure gets lowered significantly.
8. Your body temperature lowers to the ideal sleeping level.
Studies have also shown that your body tends to regulate its temperature to an ideal state when you’re sleeping with the one you love.
9. You get a stronger immune system.
Studies have shown that couples who sleep in the same bed tend to have more sex. And sex has been found to improve a body’s immune system.
