He needs the TV to fall asleep, I need a quiet room — Help!

Dear Reader,

Many people in relationships can say they are keenly aware of getting kicked awake mid-dream or struggling to fall or stay asleep due to loud snoring from one's partner. Being able to comfortably share a bed with a partner can take time and may not work for all couples. The National Sleep Foundation reports that those who watch TV or use the computer within an hour of going to bed, especially in the bedroom, experience a lower quality of sleep. Since your partner seems amenable to looking for a solution, perhaps he would consider using a personal audio device with headphones instead of watching TV. He could listen to audio books or perhaps a guided meditation, which has been proven to help manage stress and help with falling asleep.

If this does not work, perhaps you could stagger your bedtimes. He could fall asleep with the TV, then you could go in to the bedroom after that and have a quiet, dark space to go to sleep. Or would you be open to adding some "white noise," such as a fan or air conditioner unit? Perhaps that could help your partner fall asleep without interrupting your sleep.

Don't feel embarrassed if none of these ideas works for you and your boyfriend. Sleeping separately is very common, even among couples who have been together for decades. For more sleep tips, check out A!sleep. Good luck on your quest to get some ZZZs.