Is there a certain time your supposed to sleep for to get this? Does it show up in the active effects section? I seem to remember once when I woke up from sleep it said "you awake feeling rested" but I have never seen it since. What does it actually do? Doesn't seem game breaking, just wondering what I'm missing.

If you rest about 8 hours every 'day' you'll get the 'well rested bonus'. If you haven't slept for days, one thing I did was sleep for 24 hours and that kicked it in. You won't get the bonus if you became a Werewolf during the Companions' Questline. It should return after you have removed the curse. Check also to see if you have any diseases. Once you get married, sleeping with your wife will net you the 'Lover's Comfort' bonus.

Sleeping in your own bed (if you have already bought a house) will also help.

Having the Lovers Stone active also prevents the well rested bonus.

I had some confusion over this, too. I stopped getting the bonus, & then I only got it when I slept in some beds but not others. I thought it was a glitch but I finally just looked @ Active Effects & it's always there. However, the notice that flashes on the screen sometimes doesn't work, in some locations.

How the heck, though, do I get the lovers comfort? I can't get my husband to sleep @ same time. Is it because it's been a year in-game & I've never showered or brushed my teeth, lol? And why can't my character actually lay down on the bed? I couldn't do it in Oblivion & I can't in Skyrim either.

I haven't gotten married, yet, so I can't help you with your marital issues. Try bathing in a river?

But I do know that the well rested bonus for sleeping only applies if it is your bed (in a house or room you own) or a rented room at an inn. Sleeping in someone elses bed it does not apply. The Lovers Stone does the same as the Lovers Comfort bonus and you can't get the Comfort if you are a werewolf (vampire, too? not sure) or have the Stone active.

I try to sleep in my house for at least 8 hours before going to the market, giving a septum to a bum, then start selling stuff to up my Speech when trading. Skill raises faster and is boosted by the donation.

I'm pretty sure you only get the well rested bonus in a bed you own and NOT in a rented room at an inn.

Try it, you might be surprised. For ten septums I better get something!

Count it as "waiting for the next patch" time.

That would explain it, I've had the Lovers Stone on since I found it. I'll change and see if it works.

Sometimes this bonus still kicks in even when the message doesn't pop up in the corner of the screen.

Not true, it does applies at a room you rented at an inn. Once you pay for the night the game flags the bed as "owned" by you.

As for lover's comfort, I'm pretty sure that its glitched. I've waited for my wife to go to bed and then went to sleep next to her and still only woke up with the well rested bonus.