Another Reason You're Not Getting Enough Sleep

Who knew that THIS could mess with your bedtime

Well, this is unfair: Your gender may affect how well you sleep, according to a new study published in the journal Sleep Medicine.

For the study, researchers from the U.K. surveyed 8,480 people about their sleep habits—like when they fell asleep, how long they slept for, and if they experienced any difficulties drifting off. The results? Women slept for 11 minutes less than men, on average. Female participants also reported having more trouble sleeping than their male counterparts.

MORE: 5 Foods That Are Keeping You Up At Night

What gives? While this study didn't analyze why women reported poorer sleep quality, previous studies have shown that women generally have more trouble sleeping than men, says lead study author Yue Leng, a Ph.D. student in the department of public health and primary care at the University of Cambridge. One reason might be that women feel more pressure to balance work and family, and the stress could disrupt their sleep patterns, says Leng.  

But fear not—we've got loads of awesome tips and tricks to sleep better tonight (and every other night after that).

MORE: Can Sex Help You Sleep Better?

Girls Recap: What to Do If You Sleep With a Friend's Ex

Did the events in the most recent episode of Girls hit a little too close to home? Here's how an expert recommends you move past your mistake

Warning: This article contains spoilers about the episode of Girls that aired February 1.

So, Marnie and Ray. That happened. (In case you haven't seen the latest episode of Girls—and don't care about spoilers—Marnie goes to Ray's apartment to ask him what he thinks is "wrong" with her, only to end up twisting the sheets with him.)

Clearly, the sex wasn't something either party meant to happen (or even really wanted until their primal urges got the better of them). And while Shosh may have been the one who dumped Ray, he's still the guy she lost her virginity to—so according to universal girl code, that would definitely make him off-limits for Marnie.

But girl code or no girl code, Marnie slept with him. And sometimes, even people who aren't TV characters (incredibly selfish ones at that) can make the mistake of hooking up with a friend's ex. So we asked Irene Levine, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at New York University's School of Medicine, what the best course of action would be for any woman who finds herself in a similar situation—and wants to avoid a friend breakup.

"The most important thing is to tell your friend sooner than later," she says. "It could be an automatic friendship-killer if she finds out from someone other than you." Of course, that doesn't mean that you're off the hook if you do tell her soon after the incident.

"You can try to explain your lapse in judgment, but since this is such an egregious breech of trust, your friend may be unable to forgive you or need some time to get over the disappointment," says Levine. After you apologize, give her a week or two to cool off (and hopefully remember what a great friend you were before you saw her ex's penis) before you try making contact again.

When you do reach out to her, go easy on the apologies this time around. Explaining to her how you feel—even if it's how sorry you are—isn't nearly as important at this point as listening to how she feels about everything that's gone down, says Levine. Your friend still might not be able to get past your mistake, but at least you'll know you did what you could to try to salvage the relationship.

MORE: How to Forgive a Friend

Do Happy Couples Ever Sleep in Separate Bedrooms?

Apparently, more and more do—but is it smart?

When you find out that a couple sleeps in separate bedrooms, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that their relationship is in hot water. But in a segment on Good Morning America that aired earlier this week, a man and a woman who have been married for a year and a half explained that having their own bedrooms is part of the reason they’re so happy. Having their own spaces helps them get their Zzz’s and not bother each other with their respective hobbies (in this case, guitar-playing and reading).

“I love that idea that we love each other so much that we protect each other’s solitude,” the husband, Nate, told GMA.

Relationship expert Michelle Callahan, Ph.D., appeared on the show and gave her thoughts on the idea: "I think this is becoming more common as people have more difficulty sleeping at night,” she said. “They’re just discovering, ‘Look, we love each other all the rest of the day. But when it's actually time to go to sleep, we can't agree on the temperature of the room, the covers, the firmness of the bed, TV on or off.’ I think we underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep.”

It’s a thought-provoking topic, for sure. So we want to hear your take!

Tell us: Have you and a partner ever slept in separate bedrooms, even though your relationship was going well? Would you consider trying it out in the future?

More from Women’s Health:
The Best Way to Tell If Your Relationship Will Last
The Weird Sign You’re Likely to Get Divorced
The Easy Way to Earn Relationship Brownie Points