Long before alarm clocks and late-night screen time, people had a very different way of sleeping. In medieval Europe and even into the early modern period, it was common to sleep in two distinct segments. Known today as “biphasic sleep,” this natural pattern involved going to bed shortly after sunset, waking up in the middle of the night for an hour or two, and then returning to sleep until morning. Historical records across cultures—from England to Africa to China—mention this split in the night as if it were completely normal.
People called the first segment “first sleep” and the second one “second sleep.” The hours between were referred to as “the watch” or simply “watching.” During this time, people weren’t tossing and turning or trying to fall back asleep. They got up and did things. Some prayed. Others read, tended fires, visited neighbors, or even worked. It was considered a quiet and productive window of time. This forgotten habit may sound strange today, but it was deeply rooted in preindustrial life, when natural light, not electricity, shaped human routines.
Historical Proof of a Two-Part Sleep
The strongest evidence for two sleeps comes from diaries, medical texts, court records, and literature from the 15th to 18th centuries. Historian Roger Ekirch, who published a detailed study of segmented sleep, uncovered hundreds of references to the practice. One English ballad from the 16th century casually mentions “my first sleep and my next,” while legal documents refer to crimes occurring “between the first sleep and the second.” In Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” characters wake in the night after a first sleep, suggesting the idea was already familiar to readers in the 14th century.
There are also medical manuals advising when certain treatments should be applied—usually after the first sleep when the body was thought to be more relaxed. This wasn’t just limited to Europe. African tribes, Middle Eastern communities, and some Asian traditions also noted a split-night rest. The difference was largely due to the absence of artificial light. Once the sun went down, people followed its rhythm. Without television, streetlights, or smartphone screens, their bodies settled into a more natural cycle influenced by darkness and the release of melatonin.
What People Did During ‘The Watch’
During the middle-of-the-night break, activities were surprisingly diverse. Some people used this time for spiritual practices. In Christian communities, midnight prayers were common, and many believed this was the most sacred hour for connecting with God. Monasteries had structured rituals that aligned with this window, reinforcing the idea that waking at night was not just acceptable but meaningful. Others took a more practical approach. They got up to check on livestock, mend clothes, write in journals, or quietly talk with a partner.
In some areas, it was normal for neighbors to briefly visit each other during this time. The house would be dimly lit by candles or embers, offering a peaceful and almost dreamlike atmosphere. People often reported that they felt refreshed and creative during these hours. One historical account even claims that this nighttime period produced more inspired thinking than daylight ever could. It was considered a time for reflection, not for restlessness. Rather than fight the wakefulness, people embraced it.
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How the Industrial Age Erased Two Sleeps
Why did the two-sleeps system vanish? The Industrial Revolution changed everything. With the invention of artificial lighting and the push toward longer workdays, human schedules became more rigid. Factories ran on clocks, not candles. People began staying awake longer and sleeping later in the morning. By the late 1800s, urban life demanded a single consolidated period of rest. Sleep was reduced from a flexible rhythm to a standardized block.
Over time, the old pattern faded from memory. Medical professionals began to regard waking at night as a disorder. Instead of acknowledging this pattern as natural, nighttime wakefulness became labeled as “insomnia.” People were encouraged to suppress it with medications or forced routines. The cultural shift was so complete that today, few know two sleeps ever existed. It became one of many forgotten behaviors reshaped by modern life.
Sleep Science Supports the Old Pattern
But the body remembers. Studies show that when people are removed from artificial light sources and allowed to sleep in total darkness for 12 hours a day, they often revert to a biphasic pattern. After a few days, participants naturally fall into two periods of sleep separated by one to two hours of wakefulness. During this watch period, they report calmness, improved mood, and a sense of deep rest. This suggests that two sleeps may be part of our biological programming. It also helps explain why so many people wake up in the middle of the night today—yet feel shame or panic when they can’t fall back asleep. If anything, our ancestors might say we’re doing sleep all wrong.
Midnight Wakefulness: Disorder or Design?
This brings up questions about how modern sleep hygiene might be improved by rethinking what’s “normal.” If your body wants to wake up at 2 a.m. for a quiet hour of reading, maybe that’s not a sign of dysfunction but a return to something deeply natural. Therapists and sleep researchers have started to revisit the concept of segmented sleep in recent years.
Some even suggest that allowing yourself to be awake briefly in the night—without checking your phone or stressing—can reduce anxiety and improve overall rest. In other words, the problem isn’t waking up. It’s the pressure to fall back asleep immediately and the artificial expectation that sleep must happen in one unbroken block.
Modern Examples of Segmented Rest
Some modern groups still follow a two-sleep-like rhythm. For example, certain agricultural communities or remote villages without electricity often maintain early bedtimes and quiet nighttime awakenings. In Mediterranean countries, where late-night dinners push sleep schedules later, a daytime nap often replaces the need for two sleeps—but the idea of split rest is still alive in some form. Even shift workers sometimes develop a two-sleep habit naturally to adapt to their jobs. The human body appears more adaptable than we once thought.
Can We Bring Two Sleeps Back?
Of course, modern life makes adopting two sleeps difficult. Most people can’t go to bed at 8 p.m. and wake again at midnight without disrupting work or family responsibilities. But even slight changes—like giving yourself permission to read quietly during nighttime wakeups—can reduce stress. Turning off devices an hour before bed and using soft lighting can also mimic preindustrial evenings, making it easier to wind down. For some, weekend experiments with biphasic sleep can offer insight into what feels natural. Others might benefit from structured naps or early evening rest combined with early morning productivity.
What History Teaches Us About Sleep
The story of two sleeps reminds us that many aspects of modern life were not designed for human bodies—they were built around machines, factory schedules, and artificial lights. When we treat natural patterns as disorders, we ignore history and biology alike. The medieval model of rest might not fit perfectly into every modern lifestyle, but it offers a powerful reminder: sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your body may be trying to tell you something ancient, something wise, and something that worked just fine for hundreds of years. Listening to it might be the first step toward better rest.
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