World History
Related: About this forumThe forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps'
For millennia, people slept in two shifts once in the evening, and once in the morning. But why? And how did the habit disappear?
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep?

secondwind
(16,903 posts)But VERY very interesting stuff there! Thanks for posting!
littlemissmartypants
(26,795 posts)Basic LA
(2,047 posts)The novel's hero adopts this ancient sleep method, much to his benefit.
Bayard
(24,437 posts)Bookmarking for later.
KPN
(16,457 posts)1st sleep. Usually, I read for anywhere between a half hour and 2 or even 3 hours before getting my second sleep. Been doing it for years. There are a lot of folks who post here in the middle of the night.
elleng
(138,722 posts)I usually haven't had my 'first sleep' yet; that will happen in an hour or so.
I DO sometimes 'nap' mid-day, and usually don't know for how long.

Haggard Celine
(17,112 posts)I went to sleep about 8:30 and just got up about midnight. I'll go back to sleep about 4:00 and get up about 7 or 8 for the day.
brer cat
(26,838 posts)Thanks for posting, elleng.
WarGamer
(16,579 posts)PSPS
(14,359 posts)Celerity
(48,429 posts)dameatball
(7,613 posts)no need for clocks unless there is something out of the ordinary happening.
Delmette2.0
(4,318 posts)I have the same sleep cycle developing. I am not consist, but it is happening.
dameatball
(7,613 posts)Delmette2.0
(4,318 posts)2naSalit
(95,914 posts)It made it difficult for some jobs I've had. Just like only being able to eat when I'm hungry, I can only sleep when tired enough to sleep and only for three to five hours at a time. Even though some claim you don't go into the dream state in that amount of time, I beg to differ. I fall into dreamtime easily, in minutes, and I often recall my dreams, even years later.
I agree with the hypothesis of natural sleep patterns being disrupted by the industrial revolution. I hope our species can wean itself off of many of the unnatural practices that are not healthy.
eppur_se_muova
(38,531 posts)... about the "watch(ing?) hour", and how people used to sleep in two shifts. I had thought "The Watching Hour" was the title of the book being discussed with its author, but I could never find a book by that title. Finally, I did come across the book mentioned in the BBC article, which is probably the same one, but haven't read it yet (it's quite long ).
My new word for the day is "cathemeral", meaning awake during both night and day. I guess it is the complement of "crepuscular", meaning active in the twilight hours, as cats are -- suggesting that cats and humans have naturally opposite circadian cycles.
elleng
(138,722 posts)Closing my eyes, will see for how long.
elleng
(138,722 posts)Last edited Wed Jan 19, 2022, 07:47 PM - Edit history (1)
and 2d 30 minute nap.