This Woman Has Gone Mega Viral For Sharing Why She And Her Husband Of 14 Years Sleep In Separate Bedrooms And How It Works For Them

Internet, meet Chrissy and Tom Clark, a Utah couple who married in 2008 and have been together for the past 16 years. (So cute!)

  Chrissy and Tom Clark
Chrissy and Tom Clark

Recently, Chrissy responded to a TikTok user who asked that society begin normalizing couples sleeping in separate bedrooms:

@tiktockchrissy

#stitch with @liddylidds we have been married for almost 14 years! We both need our beauty sleep 😴 #fyp #marriedlife #seperatebeds

♬ Claire de Lune - Ave Maria

In a video that has amassed nearly a million views, Chrissy shared a shot of her husband's room...

  TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com
TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com

...as well as her own, right down the hall.

  TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com
TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com

The video invoked quite a response, leading thousands to flood the comment section with their views on sleeping arrangements. Some people shared that they feel sleeping in the same bed is an essential part of marriage, but others disagreed.

Never! my parents do this. what's the point of being married. I enjoy having my husband next to me. Being able to laugh, talk and decompress our day
TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com

Couples who, like Chrissy and Tom, also sleep apart from their spouse chimed in. One user wrote, "Does not mean we don't love each other. Sometimes it just works better for many reasons."

  TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com
TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com

Their sentiments were echoed by other couples who agreed that sleeping apart can work well for those partnered with people who snore, toss and turn, or enjoy reading late into the night.

We have slept apart for about 20 years, have a wonderful marriage and could not imagine any other way. He snores, I toss and turn. We meet together [fire emoji]
TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com

According to Chrissy and Tom, they began sleeping in separate beds after Chrissy became sick one year and had a persistent cough. "Because of my cough, one of us would end up sleeping on the couch or in the guest bedroom. After the cough went away, we kept sleeping in the other rooms because we both had much better sleep for several reasons," Chrissy told BuzzFeed.

"I need a dark room, and my husband sleeps better with natural light. I sleep better on a firm bed, and he loves the pillow top. We had tried several mattresses over the years and could never find one we both loved. Not to mention his snoring and taking all the covers."

Since shifting to individual beds, Chrissy said their quality of sleep significantly improved, as well as their moods. "Sleep quality has improved our marriage," she said. "I am not cranky, and neither is he. We still cuddle in bed and watch TV, but when it is time to sleep, he will go to his bedroom to sleep."

Chrissy sitting on a chair
Chrissy and Tom Clark

The 47-year-old wife also pointed out that the couple works from home together, travels together, share children, and spend most of their time together outside of dozing hours, so there's no lack of quality time. "Sleeping in separate beds does not equate to a bad marriage. If anything, it improves it for us."

Chrissy hopes that by sharing their sleeping arrangements, more couples will feel comfortable trying it for themselves or speaking about their own unconventional marriages. "[I think] many couples [sleep apart] and are not comfortable admitting it," she said. "My husband and I have our quality time awake, and we have our quality sleep time apart. I don’t think that makes us an odd couple. I guess that makes us secure and happy. If there are couples out there considering this, I say go for it. In our marriage, it has made time together just that much more special! I get excited when he comes into my room every morning with a cup of coffee."

In conclusion, the arrangement can work for many, and that's a great thing...

  TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com
TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com

...but it's a personal preference, and whatever you're comfortable with is great too.

50 years, it worked for my grandparents, but 22 years for me and I couldn't imagine not having her next to me
TikTok: @tiktockchrissy / Via tiktok.com

Do you and your partner sleep apart? If you're comfortable sharing, tell us why and how it works for relationship in the comments.