What to do if your partner isn't getting enough sleep?

Maybe you've noticed your partner not getting enough sleep lately. They may be getting distracted at night and staying up too late. Or, maybe they just toss and turn once they're in bed. Then, the next day, they're exhausted. Maybe they rely on caffeine to keep them going. They may even seem more irritable than normal from the lack of sleep. When your partner doesn't get sleep, it can affect their physical and mental wellbeing. It can also affect you when their feeling irritable, drained, and unmotivated (which a lack of sleep can lead to). But, what can you do?

The thing is, you're not in control of your partner. They get to make their own decisions which can make it even more difficult since you're probably left feeling helpless. You want to help them (and you) but you can't seem to figure out how without coming off as controlling.

Why not try talking to them in a calm, collected, and loving manner? Let your partner know you care about them and that you're concerned they're not getting the sleep they need. Try to address this concern when your partner is in a good mood since they may feel defensive about it. Ask them if there is something that you can do to help. See if you can find out the underlying cause.

Maybe they need a sound machine or a fan to provide some white noise to reduce their tossing and turning. Or, maybe the mattress isn't comfortable and it's time to go shopping for a new one. Some people simply struggle to shut off their minds at night. See if you can talk it out and find out if there's something you can do to help. If you think your partner's poor sleep is due to an underlying medical condition, encourage them to visit their doctor.

When you discuss poor sleep openly and in a caring manner, you may be able to come up with an action plan together. Maybe your partner is just struggling to turn off the game or the show and it's keeping them up at night. If that's the case, you could recommend they set a calendar reminder on their phone to keep track of the time.

It's hard to watch your partner struggling with poor sleep and it can even be harder when their poor sleep affects you as well. While you can't make your partner get more sleep, you can talk with them to try and figure out if there is a way you can assist them in living a healthier life. Good luck!

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