What if we told you that the path to deeper friendships, better sleep, and even improved emotional wellbeing could start with something as simple as your bedtime routine?
As we mark International Friendship Day (30 July), we’re celebrating the connection between sleeping next to someone you love and how shared rituals around rest can deepen bonds, ease anxiety, and help us feel more grounded in an increasingly hectic world.
The Connection Between Rest and Relationship Health
The moments before sleep are often the most emotionally open, and surprisingly powerful for nurturing connection.
Whether you're sharing a bed or syncing routines from afar, bedtime can become a ritual that builds trust, emotional safety, and closeness. Here's why it matters:
1. Sleeping Together Strengthens Your Bond
Research shows that sharing your bed with someone you’re emotionally close to can:
-
Lower cortisol (the stress hormone)
-
Increase oxytocin (the bonding hormone)
-
Improve sleep quality through synchronized sleep cycles
Couples who sleep together often report stronger emotional connection, less stress, and even better communication the next day.
2. Distance Doesn’t Have to Mean Disconnection
Even when you're apart, simple nighttime rituals can keep you emotionally close:
-
A quick goodnight text
-
Journaling at the same time
-
Sharing a meditation playlist
-
Saying “I’m winding down now” at the end of the day
These shared habits build a rhythm that feels grounding, especially when dealing with sleep anxiety or long-distance relationships.
“My partner travels a lot, but we both do a cup of chamomile and journal at the same time before bed, even if we’re on different sides of the world. It helps us feel connected.”
— Sophie, O+C customer
3. Bedtime Is a Window for Emotional Vulnerability
We naturally let our guard down at night. That’s why the hour before sleep is one of the best times to:
-
Check in emotionally
-
Express gratitude or affection
-
Offer reassurance
-
Create space for silence together
Experts agree: when approached with intention, bedtime becomes more than a routine - it becomes a shared ritual of connection.
Sleepover Rituals for Grown-Ups: Yes, They're a Thing
Remember the joy of childhood sleepovers? Giggles, secrets, and the warm comfort of someone beside you? Turns out, those moments were more than fun - they were bonding rituals rooted in emotional intimacy.
You can still recreate that connection, grown-up style:
-
Tea Time Together: Brew a relaxing herbal tea with a friend over FaceTime.
-
Lights-Out Chats: Slip on a vegan silk sleep mask, dim the lights, and talk through your day like you’re lying side by side.
-
Shared Journaling Prompts: Exchange answers over text or voice memo.
-
“Wind-Down Club”: Pick one night a week for a themed ritual—dream journaling, intention setting, or gratitude.
Even solo rituals can feel shared. Use the same scent, playlist, or sleep app as a friend or loved one. These sensory cues, layered into your routine, help create a consistent experience across distance.
Need help designing your ritual? Check out our guide to summer sleep tips and nighttime routines for easy ideas to get started.
Real Stories: Long-Distance Rituals That Keep Us Close
Not everyone gets to share a bed, but many of us do share rhythms.
“My childhood best friend and I live in different cities, but every night at 9:30 we text our ‘three good things’ from the day. It’s helped with my sleep anxiety and keeps us feeling close.”
— Mina, Olive and Crate community member
“My dad and I read the same chapter each night and text our thoughts over breakfast. It keeps us grounded across the distance.”
— Tahlia, customer
“My roommate from college and I still FaceTime every Sunday for a sleep reset—candles, tea, skincare, and a lot of venting. It’s our weekly anchor.”
— Jordan, customer
These routines echo the importance of ritual and connection in relationships. Some researchers even suggest that shared sleeping patterns are rooted in ancient human behavior. Co-sleeping throughout history offered security, warmth, and emotional connection, much like they do today.
From nightly prayers shared across time zones to using the same bedtime playlist, these rituals may seem small, but they carry a powerful message: I’m here with you, even when I’m not there physically.
How Your Sleep Space Supports Connection
Whether you're sleeping together with a partner or syncing sleep rituals with someone far away, your bedroom should be a space of comfort, connection, and calm.
Here’s how to create a bedroom that supports your relationships:
-
Start with your bedding: Our eucalyptus fiber sheets are thermoregulating, breathable, and soft. These are ideal for cuddling, restful sleep, and temperature regulation.
-
Add sensory triggers: Use warm, dim lighting, familiar scents, and plush textures that signal the body it’s time to wind down.
-
Keep the space clutter-free: A clear space helps create a clear mind, especially helpful for those with anxiety when trying to sleep.
-
Make it meaningful: Frame a letter from someone special. Display a shared ritual journal. Keep your favorite tea nearby.
Even if you sleep solo, designing a bedtime ritual with love and intention can boost your sense of security, bonding, and self-connection. For couples, adding shared elements like dual masks, a cozy playlist, or coordinated sleepwear can reinforce togetherness night after night.
Want science to back it up? Co-sleeping benefits include reduced stress, deeper sleep, and more positive relationship dynamics. It’s about more than proximity but emotional alignment.
Sleep Is Connection
Whether you’re snuggled beside your partner, texting your best friend from miles away, or syncing tea rituals with your mum every Sunday, sleep can be more than a solo act - it can be a shared journey.
Because sleeping together in spirit, rhythm, or ritual is about trust, emotional intimacy, and making space for the people who matter most.
And when you sleep better with your partner, you show up better in the world.
So tonight, send a goodnight text. Brew a calming tea. Light a familiar candle. And slip into your sheets knowing you're never truly alone - your rituals connect you.
Happy International Friendship Day, from all of us at Olive and Crate.
Explore our eucalyptus sleep bundles, masks, and ritual tools designed for real connection because every night is better when it’s shared.
