Sleep Divorce and An Early Dinner: Tips For Sweet Dreams This Valentine's

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, couples across the country will be preparing to enjoy a romantic evening together, and no matter where the night leads them, most will end it together in bed.

As expectations are set high for this love-filled day, the last thing couples will want from their night is indigestion, duvet-tugging and overheating killing the passion. 

To ensure couples can drift off peacefully together and wake up refreshed post-Valentine’s, Dr. Lindsay Browning, psychologist and sleep expert at And So To Bed, has shared her insights on how to have a harmonious bedtime and up your sleeping compatibility beyond the 14th.

1. Consider A Sleep Divorce

By this point, most of us will have heard of sleep divorce (the act of romantic partners sleeping separately to hopefully improve sleep quality and intimacy). However, despite recently booming into the zeitgeist, the term has been around for over a decade.

While Valentine’s Day may be an odd time to think about sleeping away from your partner, it can be a long-term investment for your relationship with some couples finding it beneficial. Dr. Lindsay Browning shares: “Couples will be able to miss each other and enjoy their time together without being annoyed and irritated due to not sleeping well.”

“When well-rested, you may feel more energised, have a better mood, and are more receptive to physical intimacy with your partner.

"If you are worried about maintaining closeness, you could plan some ‘snuggle time’ in a shared bed before moving to your own bed for sleep.”

2. Trial The Scandinavian Sleep Method

If a full sleep divorce is a step too far for you right now, you could try the Scandinavian sleep method instead. Another trend which recently achieved virality, the Scandinavian sleep method allows couples to share a bed while using separate duvets.

Dr Lindsay Browning comments: “This can be really helpful if one of you is typically more restless during the night than the other, or if your temperature preferences are very different.”

3. Avoid Late-Night Chocolate Snacking

A box of chocolates is a staple Valentine’s Day gift, but many of us are unaware that chocolate actually contains caffeine! To avoid sleep disruption you may want to tuck into your choccies earlier in the day as Dr. Lindsay shares: “Alongside the caffeine, theobromine found in chocolate (including sweets or hot chocolate) can act as a mild diuretic. While the effect is generally very small, consuming large amounts of chocolate before bed may make you more likely to wake up in the night to go to the toilet.”

“Chocolate also tends to contain a lot of sugar, which increases alertness and energy levels and, the cocoa butter inside is high in fat that can overwhelm the digestive tract overnight, also disrupting sleep.”

“So, while a post-dinner sweet treat may seem like the perfect way to finish your evening meal, it is best to keep your chocolate snacking to lunchtime or around 6 hours before bedtime to minimise any effect on sleep.”

Read more tips and advice on the best foods for sleep and foods to avoid before going to bed by reading Dr. Lindsay's, "Eat Well Rest Better: How to Improve Your Sleep Through Diet"

4. Go Easy On The Drinks

“If you’re heading out for a night of celebration, consider the amount of alcohol you are drinking. Alcohol is a sedative, so it can help with falling asleep, but as it metabolises, it promotes wakefulness, meaning you wake more frequently in the latter half of the night.”

“Alcohol also affects the normal progression of the sleep stages, meaning that any sleep you get after drinking is not as restorative.”

5. Leave Some Time Before Dinner & Bed

Nothing kills the mood like indigestion, so it is important to leave adequate time between your dinner and getting into bed. Dr. Lindsay Browning shares: “Ideally your dinner should be finished at least 2-3 hours before lying down to sleep to allow proper digestion. 

“Eating an especially spicy, high-in-fat, or acidic meal closer to bedtime can lead to indigestion, acid reflux and heartburn which can disrupt sleep."

Create the Perfect Sleep Sanctuary This Valentine's Day

As well as making better sleep arrangements, a supportive mattress, like our Vispring Divan Mattress range, will help to alleviate discomfort and support alignment so your body can relax. Add luxury bedding and high-quality pillows to receive the ultimate deep sleep.

Improve your sanctuary even further by Booking A Sleep Expert Consultation at one of our Nationwide Showrooms 

Please Note that the consultation is for one of our And So To Bed sleep experts, not with Dr. Lindsay Browning.

Recommended Products for A Successful "Sleep Divorce"

If you're considering sleeping in separate beds or exploring a sleep divorce to improve your rest, our range of products can help create the perfect sleep setup. These carefully selected items are designed to cater to different sleep preferences and ensure that both you and your partner get the best possible sleep. Whether you're looking at how to sleep better with a partner or need separate solutions for individual comfort, we have everything you need to build your ideal sleep sanctuary.

Vispring Hungarian Goose Down Duvet

TEMPUR® Arc™ Ergo™ Smart Base

Brinkhaus Climasoft Outlast® Duvet

Posted by Charlie Vose
10th February 2025

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