Why some Chicago couples are sleeping apart

Couples are commonly sleeping apart as they grow more aware of the importance of a good night's rest , according to Phyllis Zee, a sleep expert at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

Why it matters: A little separation could be the best thing for your health — and marriage .

The big picture: Sleep is essential for "literally every system in your body," from metabolism to regulating emotions, and having your own beds doesn't necessarily mean your relationship is on the rocks, says Molly Atwood, a sleep expert at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

• "There shouldn't be any stigma attached to it," Atwood tells Axios.

What they're saying: "The red flag is, is this relationship already showing signs of failure?" John Hughes, a Chicago psychotherapist and couples counselor, tells the Washington Post .

Between the lines: It's a good idea for couples to discuss sleep compatibility before getting married, according to Zee.

• "I tend to see [sleep separation] when couples have been married and/or they've been together for some time and have been trying to negotiate this for a while," Zee tells the Associated Press .

Reality check: Intimacy is important for your health and relationship. Atwood suggests spending a little time in bed together before parting ways.

The other side: Some couples are firmly against separate bedrooms, including Chicago homeowner Cinda Pittman, who tells Axios they're "a perfect way to ruin a marriage."

• "You will end up like siblings, not an intimately married couple, and you are just asking for your spouse to have an affair," says Pittman, who's been sleeping alongside her husband for 50 years.

The latest: Technology is helping make sharing a bed easier, experts say, pointing to white noise machines and mattresses with dual temperature controls, among other innovations.

• Atwood recommends a vibrating wrist alarm when one partner has to wake up earlier than the other.

The bottom line: There's no shame in the "sleep divorce" game.