You and your partner both need rest. But what happens when you each have a different vision of what the perfect bedtime routine and a good night’s sleep look like?

One might be the early bird, the other a night owl. One might be ready to snooze by 21:00, while the other is just walking in the door from work.

You don’t need to have the exact same bedtime, but there’s something to be said about being on the same page at night. Here’s how sleep syncing can help you tackle different sleep patterns with communication and compromise.

What Is Sleep Syncing?

Sleep syncing involves aligning your sleep schedule to your natural circadian rhythm — the internal clock your body follows. It involves creating a routine where your body sleeps and wakes when it should.

The challenge? Your ideal sleep schedule might not be the same as your partner’s.

Little disturbances may prevent you both from getting your best sleep. Sleep syncing aims to change this by helping you create a sleep schedule that works for both of you.

The Benefits of a Shared Sleep Schedule

Sleeping next to your partner can be one of the most satisfying experiences in your relationship. It can also be among the most challenging if your sleep schedules don’t line up.

That’s why many couples make sleep syncing a top priority — and gain the following benefits when they achieve it:

They’re more emotionally intimate: Going to bed together promotes bonding, cuddling, and more opportunities for meaningful connection.
They communicate better: End-of-day conversations in bed can become a daily ritual that allows for openness.
Sleep quality improves: Coordinating sleep routines can reduce disruptions caused by one partner coming to bed later or waking up earlier.
They’re more affectionate: Shared bedtimes increase the chance for physical touch, which releases oxytocin — a hormone linked to trust, bonding, and yes, relaxation.
Their health may improve: Better, more regular sleep leads to stronger immunity and moods for both partners.
There’s a sense of teamwork and unity: Sharing a sleep schedule reinforces the idea that you’re in this life together, helping to create shared habits and a sense of unity.
They have more time together: Especially for busy couples, going to bed at the same time ensures you have shared downtime every day, even when life gets in the way.

Couples who sleep together — the whole night, start to finish — typically say they’re strongly connected and happier in general.

How to Sleep Sync With Your Partner

Sleep syncing requires effort from both partners. You both need to understand (and want) its benefit and commit to making small changes that will deliver a big impact on your sleep.

Here’s how you can start sleep syncing without losing sleep.

Take notice of your current sleep routines

Before you can know where you want to go, you need to know where you currently stand. Grab a pen and a sheet of paper, then write an outline of what your current bedtime and sleep schedule look like.

For example, your outline might include:

The time you retreat to your bedroom
The things you do to get ready for bed
The activities that help you wind down
The ideal time for lights out
The time you wake in the morning

Now, compare notes. Find where your schedules overlap and where they don’t. Figure out where there might be disturbances that affect your sleep. These are the areas you’ll want to focus on when you start aligning your sleep routines.

Find a “meet in the middle” spot

You and your partner will need to make some adjustments, and it’s easier when you both give a little. Rethink the way you get ready for bed, when you sleep, and how long you sleep.

Meeting in the middle will help you both avoid having to sacrifice, which can make a new sleep schedule easier to stick to.

Start making micro adjustments

Put your new plan into action, one step at a time. It’s sometimes easier to take it slow instead of jumping straight to your end goal, as change can be hard for all of us.

For example, if one partner goes to bed at 21:00 and the other turns in at 23:00, you might have a goal of a 22:00 bedtime. To do this, you might try bedtimes of 21:15 and 22:45, respectively. Then adjust again when it feels comfortable.

Create a contingency plan

If the same bedtime simply isn’t feasible, a few changes to your nighttime routines might be a good Plan B.

For example, the partner staying up late might change for bed, brush teeth, or shower before the other partner gets into bed, which will help minimise disturbances.

This way, when the later partner is ready for bed, they can slide straight into the sheets and reduce the chance of waking their snoozing partner.

Make Bedsmade Part of Your Sleep Sync Routine

Productive sleep syncing starts with setting the right mood; when your environment is primed for good rest, it’s easier for you and your partner to get on board.

Bedsmade has crafted the ultimate sleep experience with premium organic cotton sheets that help you look forward to bedtime. Buttery soft fabric snuggles your body while allowing for breezy airflow. Tailored mattress depths on the fitted sheet and sewn in hotel corners on the top sheet keep your linens in place all night for uninterrupted comfort and effortless bed making in the morning. It’s a dreamy experience that you and your partner can get excited about to make sleep syncing an enjoyable adventure.

Make Bedsmade part of your sleep syncing routine and feel the difference — every night and in the morning!