‘Have never slept with my girlfriend’: Bryan Johnson argues in favour of couples sleeping apart

Bryan Johnson, the American biohacker, has stirred the internet with his recent Instagram post discussing his personal sleeping arrangement. Johnson revealed that he and his girlfriend, Kate, have separate beds and homes, sharing: "I have never slept with my girlfriend." Johnson cited a study of 55 couples, which reported an average of six partner-triggered awakenings per night. However, he pointed out that the scientific findings are divided.

Johnson referenced another study involving 12 couples, stating that sleeping together led to a 10% increase in REM sleep and better synchronization of sleep stages. He emphasized that the impact of sleeping arrangements varies between individuals, noting that women generally tend to sleep worse with a partner in bed, while men often report better sleep. Johnson concluded that the decision to sleep separately or together is highly dependent on the unique circumstances of each couple.

Dr Joy Desai, Director Neurology at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai, endorsed Johnson's perspective, emphasizing that the analysis of such studies should not be taken at face value. Desai stressed that the most crucial factor is the individual's ability to establish a consistent sleep routine. She added that partners who maintain psychological harmony are more likely to sleep well together, while issues like snoring can significantly disrupt a partner's sleep.

Dr Prashant Makhija, a consultant neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, further explained the importance of sleep beyond mere hours. He highlighted three key factors: duration, depth, and consistency. For adults, a typical sleep duration ranges from 7 to 9 hours per night. Insufficient sleep can accumulate sleep debt, negatively impacting long-term health, even if one feels functional during the day.

Makhija explained that sleep duration refers to getting enough total sleep, while depth relates to the quality of sleep, particularly the amount of deep and REM sleep. Deep sleep is essential for physical repair, immune function, and hormone regulation, while REM sleep is crucial for memory, learning, and emotional balance.

Consistency in sleep patterns, including going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time every day, is often overlooked but vital. Disrupting this routine by sleeping less on weekdays and trying to compensate on weekends can disrupt the body clock and reduce sleep quality, even if the total hours appear adequate. Both Dr Desai and Dr Makhija reiterated that the decision to sleep separately or together should be made based on a variety of factors, prioritizing the unique needs and circumstances of each couple.