Are Your Sleep Types Compatible? (INFOGRAPHIC)

Insomniacs, cover hogs and night owls, oh my!

While most love stories end with the 'happily ever after' of blissful cohabitation, the reality is that compatible sleeping is often an impossible dream: many otherwise made-for-each-other lovers have basic incompatibilities when it comes to sleep styles. In fact, according to one survey, more than a quarter of cohabitating adults in the U.S. report that their partner's sleep problems -- everything from sleep talking to late night TV watching -- negatively affect the quality of their shut-eye.

Sleep-deprived couples often end up crankier, more reactive and even unhealthier than their well-rested counterparts -- not exactly the makings of relationship harmony. "So much of our sleep is just never discussed," says Phillip Gehrman, PhD, CBSM, clinical director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the University of Pennsylvania. "A lot of times just getting it out in the open and talking about it can make a huge difference."

So let's start the conversation with this handy infographic. Choose your sleep type and check these tips for "re-making" your bed, with advice from the dream team: Gehrman, Stuart Quan, M.D., professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School and senior physician at the Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Russell Rosenberg, Ph.D., HuffPost blogger, CEO of Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine and chairman of the board of the National Sleep Foundation.

Graphic by: Chris Spurlock

Comments

[Chay44]

10:42 AM on 03/15/2012

I read an article about this over a year ago and was surprised at how many people assumed that if a couple slept seperately they A) didn't love each other B) didn't enjoy sex or C) had lost the intimacy in their relationship. The couples I know who sleep seperately (including myself) are all in long lasting relationships (mine is 27 years) and we have all lasted this long by appreciating our spouses and loving them enough to allow them a wonderful full nights sleep. My husband wants to share a bed, but he is such a light sleeper that any movement I make wakes him. By morning he is beyond cranky and unbearable to be around. Sleeping seperately allows me the pleasure of his smiling face in the morning, a kiss and more often than not a quick romp before work!

[Angel Whitebird]

01:13 PM on 02/21/2012

I have three of the above with my partner..I miss the cuddling part of things.The TV drives me crazy and menopause is no fun!...lol!

[casey hoffman]

11:22 PM on 02/20/2012

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[CR1984]

07:54 AM on 02/17/2012

I got all pregnant and my sleep cycle went out the window. Can't sleep for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time, and when I wake up, I'm UP. I take a few naps during my awake time, which makes it hard to sleep when my spouse does, too. I try to just stay awake, but I'll fall asleep in the middle of things, like folding laundry or reading, and 3 or 4 hours later, wake up and realize what happened.

I get more sleep than I need, but none of it is solid, comfortable or sound. Can't wait for this little dude to come out of there and let me sleep on my stomach again, but I'm not counting on getting any good sleep for a good year and a half, at least.

We caught on to the two blanket trick years ago, though.

[az10]

02:48 AM on 02/17/2012

Anti-cuddling early bird & cuddly night owl Damn it!!!

[knowcomment]

07:22 PM on 02/16/2012

Used to visit my mom and stepdad a couple times a month. He had significant health problems, and she needed help taking care of him. She was exhausted, and I assumed that it had to do with the cacophony I heard, sleeping in the next room. Somewhere between extreme snoring and a death rattle. I wondered how anyone could sleep through that. Turned out it was her, bless her heart.

[stilllearning2b]

02:53 PM on 02/16/2012

I am so glad to see this topic getting some attention. In my former marriage, his snoring combined with my light sleeping led to problems. We tried a few things, but it usually ended up with me not getting enough sleep or moving in the middle of the night. These kind of issues can lead to resentment and low health.
http://lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com

[Jenny M Derfler]

02:36 PM on 02/16/2012

I mostly sleep with myself but when I do sleep with someone else, it's mostly when I travel or have visitors (sometimes we sleep in separate beds). My friends would usually describe me as a noisy sleeper.

[Anita Benson]

02:23 PM on 02/16/2012

Love the Huffington Post's cutting edge stories... hahaha :)

[Another Random Guy]

10:06 AM on 02/16/2012

Definitely showing the early bird cover hog wife this article!

[mlic975220]

07:45 AM on 02/16/2012

Hubby has been sick off & on 9 years & for now, it's better for both of us if I sleep in another room & get a good night's sleep. He does't sleep well, but at least if I sleep in another room, one gets a good night's rest. He doesn't like it when I sleep in another room, but I need sleep to function. He is a TV watcher, snorer, kicker, cuddler, early to bed, up late, need I go on........Still together after 30 yrs though.

[Teejaytiger]

01:55 PM on 02/15/2012

Weird, when people don't sleep, they're cranky. And when they don't sleep because of someone else, they're less friendly with them. I'm glad I have Huffington Post to tell me the things I'd never figure out myself. What quality research they report on.

[jadedmonkey]

08:00 AM on 02/16/2012

And I'm glad there are people around to state how hip they are because they disliked an article, but still took the time to comment.

[Teejaytiger]

10:43 AM on 02/17/2012

And I'm glad there are people around to state how hip they are because they disliked a comment - which states how hip they are because they disliked an article, but still took the time to comment - but still took the time to comment.

[Teejaytiger]

10:44 AM on 02/17/2012

You must be the hippest.

[onlinetaxpros]

12:20 PM on 02/15/2012

I am the night owl but I still wake up early. Ever since I was young I have not needed as much sleep and have not seen any health implications for my habits. My wife is a light sleeper so I have woken her up before when I get particularly excited at one of my Xbox accomplishments or crushing defeats! Volume is critical for our happy home, and a game room has made our different sleeping styles not affect our happy marriage! It will also help us with the nightly child duties, as we are expecting^_^

[Erika Pettite]

09:42 PM on 02/14/2012

I am a light sleeper (and a snorer), I can wake up to an earthquake and my bf/partner is a deeper sleeper who will sleep right through one. We both snore, but he snores the loudest and usually it is like 11 pm or so, when he is snoring. That is when he is in deep REM. I do not come to bed until 10 or 11 because that is what I am, half Night Owl, half Morning Lark.

But we are more of an "Early Bird/Night Owl"...like I said above, I am the Night Owl and he is the Morning Lark. Oh, and he sleeps near the door and I have to go around the bed to get into bed.

[Jessica Beaudoin]

06:19 PM on 02/14/2012

For late night TV lovers, Walgreens sells wireless headphones for $20 so one person can watch TV while the other may sleep in silence. They work well and saved our sleeping arrangements!