Wendy Troxel: Navigating Sleep Challenges as a Couple, The Impacts of Sleep Deprivation on Teens, and Actionable Advice to Improve Your Sleep

Feb 20, 2025

Wendy Troxel, an internationally recognized sleep scientist and author, shares insights on the vital role of sleep in relationships and mental health. She discusses how poor sleep affects couples and suggests creating a 'sleep alliance' for better harmony. Troxel highlights the sleep crisis among teens, advocating for later school start times to improve their well-being. Practical strategies for enhancing sleep quality, including open communication about preferences, are offered to help couples and families thrive.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Sleep's Social Context

Sleep is vital for individual and relationship health.
The social context of sleep, including couple interactions, significantly impacts overall well-being.

ADVICE

Sleep Alliance

Communicate openly with your partner about sleep preferences.
Create a "sleep alliance" instead of viewing separate sleeping as a "sleep divorce."

INSIGHT

Gendered Sleep Impact

Poor sleep impacts men and women differently.
Men's sleep quality affects next-day relationship quality, while women's relationship quality affects both their sleep and their partner's.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

View This Week's Show Notes

Start Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility Coach

Join Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The Ambush

Discover how to optimize your sleep for health, love, and performance in this eye-opening episode of the Ready State Podcast featuring Dr. Wendy Troxel, a leading sleep scientist and author of Sharing the Covers.

Learn why sleep is vital for your relationships, how to navigate sleep challenges as a couple, and the surprising benefits of open communication about sleep preferences. We also explore the critical role of sleep for teenagers, the impact of school start times, and actionable tips for athletes and families to enhance recovery, mood, and overall well-being.

What you'll learn:

How sleep quality directly impacts relationships and communication
Why early school start times are harming teenagers’ sleep and performance
The hidden effects of sleep deprivation on mental health and daily life
Practical strategies to improve sleep hygiene for better rest and productivity
The importance of creating a "sleep alliance" with your partner

Whether you're tackling insomnia, improving your athletic performance, or striving for better harmony at home, this episode is packed with insights to help you thrive. Don’t miss these practical strategies to transform your nights and boost your days!

Sponsors:

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by The Starrett System. We are thrilled to announce our brand new 12-week fitness and movement mentorship program designed to help you build unshakable strength⁠, access lasting durability⁠, and maximize your longevity⁠. With weekly LIVE coaching calls with Juliet and Kelly, 4x weekly expert fitness programming for strength, mobility & recovery in our signature Starrett System App⁠, a supportive, high-energy community where you can chat & ask questions⁠, and a bonus vault of content like pain protocols, recipes, and travel workouts for sustainable health & performance⁠. Go to starrettsystem.com to learn more and sign up today!

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT, a tasty electrolyte drink mix with everything you need and nothing you don’t. That means lots of salt — with no sugar. Kelly is proposing the LMNT Challenge. Instead of waking up and only drinking coffee for the first few hours of the day, try drinking a glass of water with LMNT to start your day, before coffee. He's sure you'll feel and perform WAY better. To give it a shot, go to DrinkLMNT.com/TRS and check it out!

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by Momentous, a leading high-performance lifestyle company making the best supplements and sports nutrition products for individuals looking to optimize all parts of their lives. A recent study showed that Vitamin D reduced dementia risk by 33%. Momentous Vitamin D also helps you maintain healthy bones, manage inflammation, and bolster your immune system. Go to livemomentous.com/TRS and use code TRS for 20% OFF your first purchase.