Couples are getting 'sleep divorces' - and it could save your relationship

If you find a good night's sleep always seems to escape you, there's no shortage of underlying reasons - or possible solutions.

Ditching caffeine after 3pm, giving up that night-cap, having a break from screen time - these are all changes which could improve the quality of our sleep.

But if you've tried all of these - and more - and still wake up groggy, bloodshot and cranky, then the answer may be lying next to you.

Yes, you and your partner may be completely sleep-incompatible.

This has become such a huge problem, that according to Psychology Today, 30 per cent of Americans would rather sleep separately from their other half.

It's becoming what's known as a 'sleep divorce' and far from being a sign of a relationship in trouble, experts are saying it could be a good thing.

Perhaps one of you is a night owl, while the other is an early bird. If one partner often has disrupted sleep, then this can impact the other. Other reasons people sleep apart include different schedules, snoring, co-sleeping and even the temperature of the room.

"Poor sleep also can have negative effects on relationships," PT reports.

"Lack of sleep may diminish the positive feelings we have for our partners. Researchers found people with lower quality sleep demonstrated lower levels of gratitude, and were more likely to have feelings of selfishness, than those who slept well.

"People who slept poorly showed less of a sense of appreciation for their partners.

"What's more, poor sleep on the part of one person in the relationship had a negative effect on feelings of appreciation and gratitude for both partners.”

If this sounds like something you could both benefit from: "Tell your partner that you really love them but you’d be [less resentful of their sleeping habits] if you slept in separate beds.

"Suggest trying it for one or two nights a week and see how it goes."