Fran Drescher is a fan of ‘sleep divorce’ — here’s how it could help you, too

The Nanny is laying down nan rule — it’s clip for a sleep divorce.

Fran Drescher, 68, is nan latest prima to clasp nan increasing inclination of couples sleeping successful abstracted rooms, declaring that she doesn’t want “someone sleeping successful my furniture full-time ever again.”

“It’s not that I don’t for illustration being friendly pinch a man, but for me, ‘You come, you go!’ Literally,” nan sitcom fable told People. “It’s my clip to relax and find my peace.”

She’s not alone. Nearly one-third of Americans slumber separately from their partner, according to a 2025 survey by nan American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Among millennials, that number jumps to almost 40%.

“As clinicians, we’ve seen our patients and their spouses go much intentional astir their slumber situation arsenic they effort to amended their slumber health,” Dr. Seema Khosla, a pulmonologist and AASM spokesperson, said successful a statement.

Because let’s look it — it’s reliable to get your 8 hours of beauty slumber erstwhile your partner is snoring for illustration a chainsaw aliases hogging nan covers astatine 3 a.m.

And astir Americans aren’t moreover getting close. A 2024 Gallup poll recovered conscionable 26% of group get nan recommended magnitude of shut-eye, while complete half said they’d consciousness amended pinch much rest.

By choosing to slumber separately, group tin customize their slumber setup without having to accommodate their partner’s preferences.

“When couples slumber successful abstracted rooms, they’re capable to power nan somesthesia and situation of their ain sleeping area, which tin lead to greater wide comfortableness while getting a bully night’s rest,” Dr. Rana Ali, a slumber medicine specialist, said on behalf of Hackensack Meridian Health. 

Sleeping isolated besides reduces nan number of disruptions that tin jolt you aliases your partner awake.

“I don’t want to interest I’m disturbing different person,” said Drescher, who recently received a star connected nan Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I want to beryllium capable to put nan TV aliases nan ray connected whenever I want.”

Getting uninterrupted slumber is essential, Ali explained, because it allows our bodies to remainder and recharge, giving america nan power and attraction needed to powerfulness done nan day.

Losing moreover arsenic small arsenic 1.5 hours of slumber astatine nighttime tin impact really you feel, starring to short-term problems specified arsenic deficiency of alertness, encephalon fog, moodiness and trouble engaging successful mundane activities.

Over time, nan consequences only turn worse.

“During periods of sleeplessness, hidden wellness hazards accumulate that can’t beryllium covered up pinch concealer aliases reversed pinch caffeine,” Dr. Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, a slumber medicine specialist, said connected behalf of nan Cleveland Clinic. 

“Everything from your cardiovascular strategy to your immune system feels nan impact,” she continued.

Studies person recovered that group who regularly get little than 7 hours of slumber are much susceptible to illnesses for illustration nan common cold, arsenic their bodies’ expertise to conflict infection and inflammation weakens.

Poor slumber has besides been linked to a higher consequence of chronic conditions specified arsenic heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and moreover definite cancers.

“Mood disorders for illustration depression and anxiety are besides connected pinch chronic insomnia and slumber deprivation,” Foldvary-Schaefer said. 

And while nan word “sleep divorce” mightiness sound for illustration location is problem successful paradise, Khosla said it tin really bring couples closer.

“When our slumber is compromised owed to a disruptive partner, resentment tin grow,” she explained. “Poor slumber besides leads to diminished empathy, patience and understanding.”

Beyond conscionable getting much sleep, immoderate joined couples study that sleeping isolated has really improved their activity lives.

“When a mates gets capable amounts of uninterrupted restful sleep, it’s easier for them to consciousness connected emotionally arsenic good arsenic physically,” Ali said.

The cardinal to a successful slumber divorce, Khosla said, is communication.

Each partner must intelligibly definitive their wants and needs, she explained, and nan mates needs to beryllium intentional astir spending value clip together earlier retreating to abstracted beds.

“Rather than fostering a mediocre slumber situation for appearances, a thoughtful speech pinch nan furniture partner tin consequence successful a stronger relationship, since each partner is achieving much restful sleep,” Khosla said.