An age-old debate dividing countless couples is whether one is a night owl or a morning lark. When partners have mismatched sleep patterns, it can strain a relationship. FEMAIL speaks to a Perth-based couple experiencing so-called 'social jetlag' and a mindfulness specialist from Sydney, Clarissa Hughes, about managing opposing body clocks.
Kevin Clark, who has worked in bars most of his life, typically goes to bed between midnight and 3am. His partner, Monique Ceccato from Mount Lawley, wakes at 5.20am for the gym and prefers to sleep between 10pm and 10.30pm. 'These differing body clocks have definitely had an effect on our relationship,' Ms Ceccato said. 'Most of the time I feel guilty falling asleep on the couch at 10 when he's turning on a film.'
Ms Ceccato, who rises with the sun, likes to sleep with the blinds open, while Mr Clark needs total darkness to sleep until 8am. 'Sometimes Kevin will start ironing at 8pm when I'm switching off,' she added. According to Ms Hughes, such differences are common: 'Some 60 per cent of couples sleep in a bed together, but it's rare to find a couple whose patterns are exactly the same.'
Internal body clocks depend on genetics, behaviour, age, gender, and daily habits. Women often have earlier sleep patterns than men, sometimes by up to two hours. Ms Hughes advises couples to communicate and plan short-term to ensure both get necessary sleep. She recommends avoiding phone use in the bedroom if a partner is asleep and not entering the bedroom during the first hour of sleep, which is the deepest rest.
