Getting a good night's sleep can be a persistent struggle for many individuals. Despite feeling exhausted, the mind can remain racing, making it difficult to wind down and relax.
The constant ping of notifications, the glow of screens, and the pressures of daily life can all conspire against a restful night's sleep. Additionally, stress, anxiety, and discomfort can make it challenging to fall asleep as well.
Studies have revealed that people often sleep better when they cuddle next to a partner, especially when they share an emotional connection.
"Sleeping in pairs can enhance physical and emotional security," Dr Thomas Micheal Kilkenny, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital told the New York Post.
The sleep becomes more synchronised if the couples are emotionally closer, he said.
The benefits of sharing a bed with your partner help one sleep longer, and better and it also aligns the sleep cycles of both partners.
Holding hands, cuddling and sex can trigger the release of oxytocin, often called the 'love hormone' that manages key aspects of the male and female reproductive systems.
The release of oxytocin helps in relaxation, reduces stress and creates a sense of security. It also helps one sleep better.
According to experts, synchronising sleep cycles helps one improve their sleep quality. Sleep synchrony relies on two main factors, mutual attention and the nature of the relationship. Therefore, it is not necessary that one get a good night's sleep if it is just a random hookup buddy or friend without any emotional connection.
Emotional support, communication and relationship stability play a vital role in your sleep as well.
Also, it is not just the sleep cycles that get aligned in co-sleeping, heartbeats too get synchronised.
"Data shows that the heart rhythms of co-sleeping individuals gradually change over the night as a result of the interaction with each other,” Kilkenny said.
