Do SouthCoast Couples Have the Same Bedtime Every Night?

My wife and I have been married for 32 years, and I can't remember the last time we went to bed at the same time. She stays up late and I'm usually down for the count much earlier.

We tend to get up around the same time each day; I wake up instinctively with daybreak but she needs an alarm on workdays.

For me, bedtime generally is between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., and that's after snoozing on the couch a bit first. My wife often burns the late-night oil at her computer and will call it a day between 11 p.m. and midnight.

During a recent conversation with my uncle, who is in his 90s, he stated that he and my aunt have a set bedtime of 9 p.m. when they both turn in. I thought it was odd that two people would have the same bedtime each night. They have been married for 68 years so they must know what they are doing.

I tried to recall if my wife and I ever had a set bedtime that we would retire at each day together. When I thought about it, back in the day when television was still big and before cable network news, folks watched the 11 p.m. local news, then went to bed. We probably did, too.

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Some articles suggest couples should go to bed at the same time.

Sleep Centers of Tennessee says, "Sharing a sleep schedule with your significant other helps build intimacy between you two."

Psychology Today says, "For many couples, going to bed at the same time is a core commitment, and those partners often strive to protect that time together."

According to Marriage.com, "Couples who want to experience that deep bond and enjoy a healthy relationship understand the value of spending much time together." The site says, "One of the avenues to which they can achieve this is by falling asleep together."

Still not convinced, I turned to Facebook and asked my friends if they regularly go to bed at the same time as their significant other.

Louie said, "Depends. I'm not always tired at bedtime."

Lisa replied, "Different times."

I got this from Jeanne: "Never!"

Marc said, "Almost always the same time."

Elaine said, "He goes to bed early. If I went to bed that early, I would be up in the middle of the night."

Then there was this from Tina: "He's a night owl. Not me."

Manny said, "Never," and Cindy said, "Same." Jen said, "Never the same," while Kevin said, "Always the same."

Marie said, "Same time all the time," and Thomas replied, "50/50." Paul added, "The same time every night. My dog doesn't like to sleep alone."

What about you and your significant other?

Oh, and do you have the TV on in your room when you go to bed?