Segmented Sleep: More Normal Than You Realize
If you frequently find yourself waking up during the night, you might worry that you have insomnia or sleep apnea. However, what you’re experiencing could be “segmented sleep,” a seemingly irregular sleep pattern that may not be a disorder but a natural biological response that we’ve largely forgotten in modern times.
English scholar Roger Ekirch established the idea that our ancestors naturally practiced segmented sleep. They used their middle-of-the-night waking hours for activities like praying, meditating, or completing household chores. Ekirch discovered references to “first sleep” and “second sleep” in literature, legal documents, and letters written before the Industrial Revolution. People often spent the hours between these sleeps in prayer, finding it to be one of the most relaxing times. This might be because, around midnight, the brain produces prolactin, a hormone that promotes a sense of relaxation.
Before Reaching for That Sleeping Pill, Consider This
Our natural biorhythms are controlled by exposure to light and darkness. Before the invention of the lightbulb, people scheduled their days around the sunrise and sunset. Humans would wake up with the sun and likely go to bed shortly after it set. Sunlight exposure triggers the brain to produce serotonin, which makes us feel energetic and alert. Conversely, in complete darkness—without any artificial light—the brain produces melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep.
Today, the abundance of artificial light from computers, TV screens, smartphones, and tablets extends our waking hours and disrupts our natural neurochemistry. This could be why the practice of segmented sleep has faded from public consciousness. We stay up later, produce serotonin at times we shouldn’t, and often consume less-than-ideal foods. As a result, we sleep through the night without waking, and this has become our new normal. Even most medical professionals and sleep specialists are unaware of segmented sleep and aren’t trained to handle this natural occurrence.
If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, consider researching segmented sleep and its potential benefits before reaching for a sleeping pill. You might be more in tune with your ancestral rhythms than most people.
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!
