Each year, thousands of couples in the US begin the process of divorce, and all of them will have their own reasons why parting ways is for the best. But apparently, countless other couples are embarking on a different kind of "divorce" these days — one that doesn't involve shelling out big bucks for lawyers, working out custody arrangements, or even moving houses. It's being called a "sleep divorce", and it's become so popular that even celebs like Carson Daly are hopping on the bandwagon.
According to Daly, the "divorce" began last fall
In an exclusive interview with People, the 46-year-old Today show host said it happened sort of naturally, while his wife, Siri, was pregnant with their fourth child.
"We're both pretty good-sized humans and it just wasn't really working when she was in her third trimester, and I also have sleep apnea, which is very sexy for the ladies out there, I'm sure," Carson shared. "She couldn't get comfortable, so we were like a commercial you would see, kicking each other and just not sleeping."
At some point, enough was enough
The couple welcomed their daughter Goldie in March
But if they thought that would be the end of their little "arrangement," it didn't prove to be.
Because by then, it wasn't just Carson's sleep apnea that got in the way — his work schedule was becoming increasingly chaotic, too.
In addition to co-hosting Today, he is also the host of NBC's The Voice, which required the family to temporarily move out to California to wrap up the season. At the same time, his wake-up call for Today was moved up to 3 a.m., which is mighty early.
It also makes Daly an even less desirable bed-mate.
"I'm purposely not sleeping, obviously, with [Siri] and Goldie, because I don't want to wake them up at 3 o'clock in the morning," Carson told People. "We're still sleep divorced, but for discernibly different reasons."
The arrangement may be unusual, but it works for them
So much so, that Daly has said he doesn't know "if we'll ever sleep together again."
But that's not to say the couple has been growing apart. In fact, if anything, the sleeping arrangement seems to have made their 15-year relationship better.
"Sleep is important, that’s an important part of this," Daly shared during a November episode of Today. "You're going to be a better person if you are rested, which can help your relationship."
As extreme as it sounds, it's certainly not unheard of
"Sleep divorces" have been slowly becoming more common in the past couple years (or, at least, people are talking about them more).
A 2015 NBC News report found that 25% of married couples sleep in separate beds to catch more shut-eye, and it's actually twice as popular now than it used to be.
Of course, it makes sense — sleeping next to someone else can be a problem if your particular sleep patterns don't mesh well. If you're a light sleeper and your partner's prone to tossing and turning, snoring loudly, or getting up frequently to use the bathroom, it can lead to some major issues. For those who might be affected by nontraditional work hours, like Daly, alternative sleep arrangements might actually be a means of survival.
For some couples, the "divorce" is only temporary
Some may only sleep separately while a baby is breastfeeding or one parent is going through a particularly stressful period at work. Others may find that the arrangement only works for them during the workweek, and opt to sleep together on the weekends.
Even Daly hints that that may be the case for he and Siri.
"Believe it or not our mattress at the house we were renting was on the floor. So Siri texted me one night like, 'Maybe we should get the bed fixed and try sleeping together?'" Daly shared with People. "Maybe a Friday, when I don't have to wake up the next day at 3 a.m., will be our triumphant sleep return."
