Segmented Sleep: More Normal Than You Realize
If you often find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, you might be wondering if you have insomnia or sleep apnea. However, what you’re experiencing could be something called “segmented sleep,” which is actually a natural sleep pattern that modern society has largely forgotten.
Our Ancestors and Segmented Sleep
English scholar Roger Ekirch discovered that our ancestors used to naturally engage in segmented sleep. They would wake up in the middle of the night and use this time to pray, meditate, or complete household chores. Ekirch found references to “first sleep” and “second sleep” in various historical documents, including literature, legal records, and personal letters from before the Industrial Revolution. During the period between these two sleeps, people often prayed, finding it to be one of the most relaxing times. This relaxation might be due to the brain producing prolactin, a hormone that promotes a sense of calm, around midnight.
Before Reaching for That Sleeping Pill, Consider This
Our natural biorhythms are influenced by light and darkness. Before the invention of the lightbulb, people’s daily schedules were closely aligned with the sunrise and sunset. When the sun rose, people would wake up, and when it set, they would go to sleep. Sunlight triggers the production of serotonin in the brain, which makes us feel awake and energetic. Conversely, darkness prompts the production of melatonin, which regulates sleep.
However, in today’s world, artificial light from computers, TVs, smartphones, and tablets extends our waking hours and disrupts our natural sleep patterns. This could be why segmented sleep has faded from common practice. We stay up later, produce serotonin when we shouldn’t, and often consume less-than-ideal food, all of which contribute to our current sleep habits. Even many medical professionals and sleep specialists are unaware of segmented sleep and are not trained to address it.
If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, consider researching segmented sleep and its potential benefits before turning to sleeping pills. You might be more in tune with your ancestral sleep patterns than you realize.
Share Your Experience
Do you wake up in the middle of the night? What do you do during that time? We’d love to hear your thoughts and insights!
