‘Sleep divorce’ catches up with young city couples for a happy, well-rested life
Times of India | 14 March 2025
12 Kolkata: ‘Sleep divorce' or sleeping separately is turning into a trending practice among otherwise happily married young couples.
On the eve of World Sleep Day on Friday, doctors said the trend, which was also growing in the city, did not imply trouble in marriage but was aimed at better sleep quality.
Sayantika Pal and Abhijit Sarkar have been married for four years. They work in two different marketing firms. For close to a year, they have been sleeping in two rooms, apparently because Sayantika finds it difficult to rest properly amid Sarkar's snores. "We have been coming across several young, working couples who have adopted sleep divorce owing to a partner's snoring," said sleep medicine specialist Sourav Das of Somnos Sleep Clinic. Das is also the regional coordinator for World Sleep Day (World Sleep Society) and secretary, Calcutta Sleep Society.
Experts pointed out that a sedentary lifestyle, allergy, pollution, poor eating habits and stress amid work pressure, along with long hours of digital time, contributed to sleep disorder. Doctors said the ‘sleep divorce' trend was particularly evident among young couples working in demanding industries. A mismatch in work schedules often pushed couples to sleep in different rooms. Mental health specialist at Fortis Hospital Anandapur Sanjay Garg cited the example of an IT employee couple—one working for an Indian company and the other handling US-based clients. Working for different continents and time zones meant a mismatch in their schedule, which led to disruption of their sleep and impact on their well-being. Eventually, they decided to sleep in separate rooms, which improved their situation, he said.
"While some couples worry that this arrangement might affect their relationship or intimacy, many say it enhances their bond, making them more relaxed, supportive and understanding of each other," said Garg.
But, doctors said, this arrangement, despite being mutual, could have an emotional impact on couples in the long run. "There are some couples who do come for counselling as they struggle with the emotional impact of this arrangement," added Garg. Somnath Maity, director of Institute of Sleep Science Kolkata, agreed this arrangement did have the risk of affecting relationships. "While the quality of sleep improves, it can cause a gap in the relationship, psychologically, emotionally and biologically. That is why the diagnosis for sleep disorder is essential for timely intervention," he said.
Many use sleep-assisting devices, such as C-pap, which help them improve sleep and ensure partners don't get sleep-deprived due to snoring.
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