Latest news with #Aussies
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
‘Sleep separations' are increasing in popularity, new data shows
Don't miss out on the headlines from Illness. Followed categories will be added to My News. There's been a dramatic spike in the number of couples agreeing to part ways in the bedroom as Australia's growing sleep crisis worsens. New data shows that nearly one in three Australians struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week, sparking a rise in the number of couples who have embarked on a 'sleep divorce', opting to get their nightly rest in separate beds or rooms – despite ongoing stigma surrounding the decision. The research, conducted by leading sleep device manufacturer ResMed for its 2025 Global Sleep Survey, has revealed sleep deprivation is so bad that almost 1 in 5 (18 per cent) of Australians have called in sick. But shockingly, 41 per cent of Aussies are choosing to 'just live with' with the consequences of a bad night's kip, almost double the global average. 'This year's Resmed Global Sleep Survey found that the top factors causing Australians to have a poor night's sleep are stress (47 per cent), followed by anxiety (42 per cent) and financial pressures (26 per cent),' Dr. Alison Wimms, Director of Medical Affairs for the company, told 'Screen time, and inconsistent routines also widely affect sleep in Australia.' Some of those not willing to put up with a poor night's sleep have decided to embark on a 'sleep divorce', with 61 per cent of Aussies who have ditched their partner at bedtime reporting a better sleep quality. '26 per cent said it improved their relationship, and almost 16 per cent noted a positive impact on their sex life,' Dr. Wimms added. 'Sleeping separately can also improve sleep quality by reducing disturbances from different schedules, snoring, or movement during sleep.' Australia is caught in a sleep crisis, with nearly one in three Australians struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week. Picture: iStock However sleeping separately does not work for everybody, with 38 per cent of the 1 in 5 Australians who opted for a sleep separation – often due to snoring and restlessness – stating said they felt their quality of sleep got worse or remained the same. Alarmingly, almost 1 in 5 of those who have split up at night said they felt their relationship and sex life took a turn for the worse after sleeping apart. Sydney couple's therapist Shahn Baker Sorekli however warns that while a sleep separation 'can be helpful in some circumstances', he doesn't always recommend it. 'The main reason is coming together at the end of the night allows for a bit of a nice routine for the relationship where you can have a moment of connection and intimacy,' podcast, From the Newsroom. 'I'm not talking about, you know, long deepened meaningfuls in bed. It might just be a little snuggle, might just be reading next to each other, but kind of coming together at the end of the night. 'Being a couple, just unwinding is just a nice point of connection. And if you can maintain a good sleep routine together, it can just be really healthy for the relationship. So you close off the world, you in your room together, snuggling away.' Some couples who sleep apart rave about the benefits of a 'sleep divorce'. Picture: Instagram/AnnieKnight But experts warn it isn't for everyone and can have an impact on intimacy. Picture: Instagram/Lisa Wipfli The clinical psychologist, who authored relationship book The 8 Love Links, said that for those who find sleeping apart 'improves sleep quality it's absolutely a good idea'. 'For example, if one person is a really restless sleeper or somebody has a problem with snoring or perhaps somebody does shift work... and it going to add to the relationship tension, that's when it's a good idea,' he shared. 'You've just got to be careful not to get into any kind of the pitfalls around it. Dr Wimms noted that it is often women who report poorer sleep quality and higher rates of mood disruptions than men, explaining the gap was noticeable. '38 per cent of Australian women struggle to fall asleep at least 3 nights a week, compared to 26 per cent of men,' she explained. 'This is consistent with global numbers where we see women consistently report more sleep challenges. This may be due to hormonal changes through the month, caregiving responsibilities, or higher stress loads. 'While 4 in 10 Australian women say that their sleep is disrupted by their partner at least a few times a week, most often because of snoring or loud breathing, compared to 28 per cent of men.' The ResMed 2025 Global Sleep Survey concluded that sleep has become the 'silent casualty of modern lives'. Picture: iStock The report concluded that sleep has become the 'silent casualty of our busy modern lifestyles', noting the 'lines between work and home more blurred than ever'. Pressures such as the rising cost of living in Australia are also building, resulting in poor sleep across the nation. But it's not all bad news, with ResMed stating that Australians have become more curious about how they sleep, with 33 per cent monitoring their sleep, up from 18 per cent last year. 'This increased curiosity, however, has revealed a gap in action with a staggering 41 per cent of Aussies saying they would just live with poor sleep,' Dr. Wimms said. 'This is higher than the 22 per cent globally who indicated that they would do the same. This gap makes it vital for us to drive awareness of the importance of not just knowing, but taking action to improve your sleep health. 'This could be as simple as raising your sleep in a conversation with your healthcare provider or taking an online sleep assessment to learn more about what may be causing your poor sleep.' Those who have spoken out in the past about the benefits of sleeping separately to their partner include Michael and Lisa Wipfli, Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew and her husband Neil Varcoe as well as popular porn star Annie Knight who recently announced she sleeps in a separate bed to her new fiance Henry Brayshaw. Originally published as 'Sleep separations' are increasing in popularity, new data shows
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
What is ‘sleep divorce' — and why is this concerning trend becoming more popular?
There's been a dramatic spike in the number of couples agreeing to part ways in the bedroom as Australia's growing sleep crisis worsens. New data shows that nearly one in three Australians are struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week, sparking a rise in the number of couples who have embarked on a 'sleep divorce', opting to get their nightly rest in separate beds or rooms – despite ongoing stigma surrounding the decision. Advertisement The research, conducted by leading sleep device manufacturer ResMed for its 2025 Global Sleep Survey, has revealed sleep deprivation is so bad that almost 1 in 5 (18 per cent) of Australians have called in sick. 6 Nearly one in three Australians are struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week, leading to couples getting their nightly rest in separate beds or rooms. Pixel-Shot – But shockingly, 41 percent of Aussies are choosing to 'just live with' the consequences of a bad night's kip, almost double the global average. 'This year's Resmed Global Sleep Survey found that the top factors causing Australians to have a poor night's sleep are stress (47 percent), followed by anxiety (42 percent) and financial pressures (26 percent),' Dr. Alison Wimms, Director of Medical Affairs for the company, told Advertisement 'Screen time, and inconsistent routines also widely affect sleep in Australia.' 6 41 percent of Aussies are choosing to 'just live with' the consequences of a bad night's kip, almost double the global average. terovesalainen – Some of those not willing to put up with a poor night's sleep have decided to embark on a 'sleep divorce', with 61 percent of Aussies who have ditched their partner at bedtime reporting a better sleep quality. '26 per cent said it improved their relationship, and almost 16 per cent noted a positive impact on their sex life,' Dr. Wimms added. Advertisement 'Sleeping separately can also improve sleep quality by reducing disturbances from different schedules, snoring, or movement during sleep.' However sleeping separately does not work for everybody, with 38 percent of the 1 in 5 Australians who opted for a sleep separation – often due to snoring and restlessness – stating they felt their quality of sleep got worse or remained the same. Alarmingly, almost 1 in 5 of those who have split up at night said they felt their relationship and sex life took a turn for the worse after sleeping apart. Advertisement Sydney couple's therapist Shahn Baker Sorekli however warns that while a sleep separation 'can be helpful in some circumstances', he doesn't always recommend it. 6 According to a survey, 38 percent of the 1 in 5 Australians who opted for a sleep separation – often due to snoring and restlessness – said they felt their quality of sleep worsen or remained the same. motortion – 'The main reason is coming together at the end of the night allows for a bit of a nice routine for the relationship where you can have a moment of connection and intimacy,' podcast, From the Newsroom. 'I'm not talking about, you know, long deepened meaningfuls in bed. It might just be a little snuggle, might just be reading next to each other, but kind of coming together at the end of the night. 'Being a couple, just unwinding is just a nice point of connection. And if you can maintain a good sleep routine together, it can just be really healthy for the relationship. So you close off the world, you in your room together, snuggling away.' 6 'If you can maintain a good sleep routine together, it can just be really healthy for the relationship,' couple's therapist Shahn Baker Sorekli says. Allistair F/ – The clinical psychologist, who authored relationship book The 8 Love Links, said that for those who find sleeping apart 'improves sleep quality it's absolutely a good idea'. 'For example, if one person is a really restless sleeper or somebody has a problem with snoring or perhaps somebody does shift work… and it going to add to the relationship tension, that's when it's a good idea,' he shared. Advertisement 'You've just got to be careful not to get into any kind of the pitfalls around it. 6 If sleeping together is 'going to add to the relationship tension, that's when it's a good idea,' Sorekli said about when it is appropriate for separate sleeping arrangements. WavebreakMediaMicro – Dr. Wimms noted that it is often women who report poorer sleep quality and higher rates of mood disruptions than men, explaining the gap was noticeable. '38 per cent of Australian women struggle to fall asleep at least 3 nights a week, compared to 26 per cent of men,' she explained. Advertisement 'This is consistent with global numbers where we see women consistently report more sleep challenges. This may be due to hormonal changes through the month, caregiving responsibilities, or higher stress loads. 6 'We see women consistently report more sleep challenges. This may be due to hormonal changes through the month, caregiving responsibilities, or higher stress loads,' Dr. Wimms said. Nattakorn – 'While 4 in 10 Australian women say that their sleep is disrupted by their partner at least a few times a week, most often because of snoring or loud breathing, compared to 28 per cent of men.' The report concluded that sleep has become the 'silent casualty of our busy modern lifestyles', noting the 'lines between work and home more blurred than ever'. Advertisement Pressures such as the rising cost of living in Australia are also building, resulting in poor sleep across the nation. But it's not all bad news, with ResMed stating that Australians have become more curious about how they sleep, with 33 percent monitoring their sleep, up from 18 percent last year. 'This increased curiosity, however, has revealed a gap in action with a staggering 41 per cent of Aussies saying they would just live with poor sleep,' Dr. Wimms said. Advertisement 'This is higher than the 22 per cent globally who indicated that they would do the same. This gap makes it vital for us to drive awareness of the importance of not just knowing, but taking action to improve your sleep health. 'This could be as simple as raising your sleep in a conversation with your healthcare provider or taking an online sleep assessment to learn more about what may be causing your poor sleep.' Those who have spoken out in the past about the benefits of sleeping separately to their partner include Michael and Lisa Wipfli, Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew and her husband Neil Varcoe as well as popular porn star Annie Knight who recently announced she sleeps in a separate bed to her new fiance Henry Brayshaw.
Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Digital nomads: The critical workers seeing the world and getting paid for it
Forget gap years, taking your career on the road as a digital nomad is becoming the preferred way to see the world, with almost one in three Australians having ditched a permanent residency to work remotely. A YouGov survey found 29 per cent of Aussies had been able to travel for an extended period of time while using technology and the internet to work; while 41 per cent of Australians were keen on the idea. Scott Millar from school-based educational provider BOP Industries said the pandemic enlightened employees to the endless possibilities of working remotely. 'Covid really showed us, and particularly showed young people, that you can do just as much work at just as high a quality, but instead of sitting in an office in Brisbane or Sydney, you can be sipping cocktails on a beach in Bali, or in a co-working space in London, or a friend's flat in New York,' he said. 'Young people are finding that they can do the exact same job from anywhere in the world and still earn the same amount of money, and still have the same career progression.' But it's not just Gen Z embracing the work-from-anywhere concept, said demographer Bernard Salt. 'That's a feature coming through in a number of the generations of the workforce right through to the 50s and 60s and maybe even beyond,' he said. 'I think we'll see this more mobile workforce, particularly amongst the professional sector, who can have a laptop and will travel and relocate to a place that suits their needs for a particular time.' IT and computing workers have been leading the trend, representing 30 per cent of digital nomads, followed by those in creative roles like script writing (21 per cent), then financial services industry staffers (18 per cent). Most are chasing lifestyle benefits, with 44 per cent of digital nomads declaring being able to travel without taking time off work was a great plus. Brisbane-bred software engineer Zac Murray, 26, has spent much of the past two years traversing the globe as a digital nomad, visiting and working in more than 50 countries including America, Mexico, Colombia, China, Portugal and Egypt. 'I definitely fell in love with the lifestyle - it just had a magic to it that I can't even explain,' he said. 'It's not glamorous, but it is something that is really special and I felt connected to something in a way that I haven't felt before.' But he revealed it was not all roses, with Visa issues, budgeting, lack of stability and loneliness the biggest challenges. 'One of the downsides that people often don't talk about is it can get lonely because you're away from all your friends, your family, you're constantly changing locations,' he said. 'And something I also struggled with initially is that it's not a holiday, it's about living your life the way you normally would but adding on an extra travelling component, because you still have expectations at work and you don't want to let your job performance suffer.' With the proliferation of AI in the workplace, the trend is only set to grow, with Mr Millar declaring some employers were already offering employees the option to work nine months in the office and three months from abroad each year. 'I've seen some companies that have started offering that flexibility for their staff … and they're setting up links with accommodation providers and co-working space providers in different cities around the world,' he said, naming Shopify and WeWork as leading examples. TOP TIPS FOR LIVING AS A DIGITAL NOMAD 1. Have a plan and a budget for each destination to avoid overspending 2. Set up regular routines in each destination like you would at home to ensure you get your work done, such as going to the gym and having a separate work space 3. Choose destinations that run on similar time zones to your employer to make communicating with work easier 4. Consider staying in hostels, which can not only help you save money, but can also assist with making friends 5. Don't treat the experience as a holiday. Work your usual hours and explore after hours . Originally published as Digital nomads: The critical workers seeing the world and getting paid for it
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Sleep separations' are increasing in popularity, new data shows
There's been a dramatic spike in the number of couples agreeing to part ways in the bedroom as Australia's growing sleep crisis worsens. New data shows that nearly one in three Australians struggling to fall or stay asleep three or more times a week, sparking a rise in the number of couples who have embarked on a 'sleep divorce', opting to get their nightly rest in separate beds or rooms – despite ongoing stigma surrounding the decision. The research, conducted by leading sleep device manufacturer ResMed for its 2025 Global Sleep Survey, has revealed sleep deprivation is so bad that almost 1 in 5 (18 per cent) of Australians have called in sick. But shockingly, 41 per cent of Aussies are choosing to 'just live with' with the consequences of a bad night's kip, almost double the global average. 'This year's Resmed Global Sleep Survey found that the top factors causing Australians to have a poor night's sleep are stress (47 per cent), followed by anxiety (42 per cent) and financial pressures (26 per cent),' Dr. Alison Wimms, Director of Medical Affairs for the company, told 'Screen time, and inconsistent routines also widely affect sleep in Australia.' Some of those not willing to put up with a poor night's sleep have decided to embark on a 'sleep divorce', with 61 per cent of Aussies who have ditched their partner at bedtime reporting a better sleep quality. '26 per cent said it improved their relationship, and almost 16 per cent noted a positive impact on their sex life,' Dr. Wimms added. 'Sleeping separately can also improve sleep quality by reducing disturbances from different schedules, snoring, or movement during sleep.' However sleeping separately does not work for everybody, with 38 per cent of the 1 in 5 Australians who opted for a sleep separation – often due to snoring and restlessness – stating said they felt their quality of sleep got worse or remained the same. Alarmingly, almost 1 in 5 of those who have split up at night said they felt their relationship and sex life took a turn for the worse after sleeping apart. Sydney couple's therapist Shahn Baker Sorekli however warns that while a sleep separation 'can be helpful in some circumstances', he doesn't always recommend it. 'The main reason is coming together at the end of the night allows for a bit of a nice routine for the relationship where you can have a moment of connection and intimacy,' podcast, From the Newsroom. 'I'm not talking about, you know, long deepened meaningfuls in bed. It might just be a little snuggle, might just be reading next to each other, but kind of coming together at the end of the night. 'Being a couple, just unwinding is just a nice point of connection. And if you can maintain a good sleep routine together, it can just be really healthy for the relationship. So you close off the world, you in your room together, snuggling away.' The clinical psychologist, who authored relationship book The 8 Love Links, said that for those who find sleeping apart 'improves sleep quality it's absolutely a good idea'. 'For example, if one person is a really restless sleeper or somebody has a problem with snoring or perhaps somebody does shift work... and it going to add to the relationship tension, that's when it's a good idea,' he shared. 'You've just got to be careful not to get into any kind of the pitfalls around it. Dr Wimms noted that it is often women who report poorer sleep quality and higher rates of mood disruptions than men, explaining the gap was noticeable. '38 per cent of Australian women struggle to fall asleep at least 3 nights a week, compared to 26 per cent of men,' she explained. 'This is consistent with global numbers where we see women consistently report more sleep challenges. This may be due to hormonal changes through the month, caregiving responsibilities, or higher stress loads. 'While 4 in 10 Australian women say that their sleep is disrupted by their partner at least a few times a week, most often because of snoring or loud breathing, compared to 28 per cent of men.' The report concluded that sleep has become the 'silent casualty of our busy modern lifestyles', noting the 'lines between work and home more blurred than ever'. Pressures such as the rising cost of living in Australia are also building, resulting in poor sleep across the nation. But it's not all bad news, with ResMed stating that Australians have become more curious about how they sleep, with 33 per cent monitoring their sleep, up from 18 per cent last year. 'This increased curiosity, however, has revealed a gap in action with a staggering 41 per cent of Aussies saying they would just live with poor sleep,' Dr. Wimms said. 'This is higher than the 22 per cent globally who indicated that they would do the same. This gap makes it vital for us to drive awareness of the importance of not just knowing, but taking action to improve your sleep health. 'This could be as simple as raising your sleep in a conversation with your healthcare provider or taking an online sleep assessment to learn more about what may be causing your poor sleep.' Those who have spoken out in the past about the benefits of sleeping separately to their partner include Michael and Lisa Wipfli, Sunrise host Edwina Bartholomew and her husband Neil Varcoe as well as popular porn star Annie Knight who recently announced she sleeps in a separate bed to her new fiance Henry Brayshaw.
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
90s soap star, 47 looks unrecognisable three decades years after TV fame and new career
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A STAPLE of Aussies soaps looks completely different now after ditching her TV career. Tempany Deckert, played Selina Cook on Home and Away for four years until 1998. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Tempany Deckert looks unrecognisable from her days on Home and Away Credit: instagram/@tempanydeckert 3 Tempany (far right) played Selina Cook on the Aussie soap Credit: Alamy After the actress moved on from Home and Away, she had some roles in other Aussie dramas such as, All Saints, and treaded the boards in theatre productions Down Under. She decided to follow in the footsteps of her Home and Away co-stars, Melissa George and Isla Fisher, by moving to Los Angeles to try her luck in Hollywood. While she has appeared in some films and TV shows over the years, Tempany has largely moved away from acting and her new career path couldn't any more different than her character Selina on the soap. She teaches writing courses at UCLA, works as a motivation speaker and has published a massive 18 children's books. home and away HOME & LA Home & Away star unrecognisable with new life and career 13 years after quitting Tempany based in Los Angeles for most of the year and in between sharpening young minds, she took time earlier this year to appear in season 4 of FOXTEL's prison drama Wentworth. She also made a surprise appearance in the Emmy-award winning Netflix series, Dahmer, where she played a cop working the desk at a police station in one episode of the limited series. Tempany opened up on quitting acting, saying it felt like she'd dodged a bullet. "For me, I always wanted to give a really good turn at my writing, and I wanted to have children," Deckert told 7News in Australia. "I knew that if I had children and I was working on sets, it was going to be very difficult. You are working many hours a day and you don't get to see them that much," she added. "If I had gotten a bunch of jobs in Hollywood, I probably would have stayed the course because I love acting – but I probably wouldn't have gotten married and had kids." Soap legend, 80, has very different career 25 years after being killed off and returning as a ghost The actress also runs writing courses for anyone who wants to follow in her footsteps, including one called Write a Novel, Change your Life. She recently promoted an upcoming course on Instagram where she looked unrecognisable from her days playing Selina on Home and Away. Wearing dark rimmed glasses and minimal make-up, Tempany promised some more courses were coming soon. Tempany is also married to voice actor Brian Donovan and they share two children. She became an American citizen in 2020, but said her dream would be to return to Australia. "I'm trying to convince my Australian agent to get me a great job in Australia where we can move back for six months to a year," Deckert said. "That's the dream – to convince the husband to move to Australia."
