Why Medieval People Slept Twice a Night: The Forgotten Habit of Biphasic Sleep

Medieval People Slept Twice a Night

Absolutely nothing like a good midnight prayer followed by a snack and maybe a bit of light mischief. Turns out, our ancestors weren’t tossing and turning in the dark—they were embracing a two-part sleep schedule that would make even the most chaotic insomniac feel validated.

Here we go: medieval sleep habits, coming at you like a dream split in two.

What If Waking Up at 2am Was… Normal?

If you’ve ever found yourself wide awake at 2am, wondering if you’re broken, fear not. You’re actually just a little bit medieval. Back in the day—specifically the Middle Ages and well into the early modern period—people didn’t sleep in one long block like we do now. Instead, they followed a rhythm that might sound strange to us but was entirely natural to them: segmented sleep, also known as biphasic sleep.

Sleep, wake, do stuff, sleep again. That was the vibe. And it made perfect sense.

What Did “First Sleep” and “Second Sleep” Actually Look Like?

The night was neatly carved into two main sessions. People would retire not long after nightfall—candles were expensive and darkness fell hard and fast. They’d sleep for a few hours (this was the first sleep), then wake around midnight or so. This wakeful stretch lasted an hour or more. Then came the second sleep, which continued until sunrise.

What Were They Doing During This Midnight Break?

Here’s where things get juicy.

In that space between sleeps, people did all sorts of things. According to diaries, medical texts, and literature from the time, the options included:

  • Praying (this was prime time for soul maintenance)
  • Reading or meditating (if you were lucky enough to be literate or had access to a candle)
  • Tending the fire or animals
  • Casual chatting with the family
  • Paying a social call to neighbours
  • Getting frisky with your spouse

Yes, sex. Physicians even recommended this as the ideal time for lovemaking—after the first sleep, the body was rested, and the spirit, well, perhaps a little bored.

Where’s the Evidence?

This isn’t some quaint theory dreamed up by modern sleep researchers hoping to sell you a medieval sleep coach. The concept of segmented sleep shows up everywhere in historical records.

Literary References Galore

You’ll find mentions in Chaucer, in the journals of 16th-century monks, even in court documents where someone is reported to have committed a crime “between first and second sleep.” It was that deeply ingrained in the culture.

One 17th-century French physician noted that this waking period was “the best time for study and reflection,” while English doctor Robert Burton wrote in 1621 that those unable to conceive during the day should try “after the first sleep.”

Nothing like a bit of midnight productivity—academic, spiritual or otherwise.

Why Did They Sleep This Way?

The Role of Natural Light

Before electric lighting, people’s sleep patterns closely followed the sun. In winter, when nights were long, there was simply too much darkness to spend it all asleep. A split-night routine was practical—it filled those hours naturally.

Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin

Modern sleep studies suggest segmented sleep may actually be more aligned with our body’s natural rhythms. The hormone melatonin rises sharply after dusk, dips slightly around midnight (leading to natural wakefulness), and then climbs again to trigger second sleep.

Turns out your brain isn’t broken—it’s just medieval at heart.

When Did We Ditch the Midnight Pause?

Blame Industrialisation

As cities grew and gas lighting lit the streets, people stayed up later. The rigid schedules of factory life didn’t exactly allow for lounging around in the middle of the night with a psalm book and a snack. Sleep became compressed into one block to fit the new rhythm of work, school, and productivity.

By the 19th century, the concept of first and second sleep had all but disappeared from public consciousness—though the odd insomniac might still get a whiff of it.

The Rise of the “8-Hour Sleep Ideal”

Then came the modern sleep myth: one solid eight-hour block or bust. If you didn’t achieve that, you were deemed restless, anxious, or just doing life wrong. Entire industries have since flourished on the premise that if you can’t sleep through the night, you need fixing.

But maybe the problem isn’t you. Maybe it’s capitalism.

Is Biphasic Sleep Making a Comeback?

Sleep Experiments and Revivalists

Modern researchers, like historian Roger Ekirch, have extensively documented this phenomenon. Sleep labs have even replicated the effects. Participants deprived of artificial light quickly fell into a natural segmented pattern—first sleep, midnight wake, second sleep.

A few sleep enthusiasts and biohackers today are embracing this old rhythm, setting their alarms for 2am like some sort of medieval monk with a side hustle.

Could It Actually Be Healthier?

Some experts think it might help with insomnia, especially that irritating “wake up in the middle of the night and spiral” variety. If you embrace it as a normal pattern—get up, read, maybe do some yoga—you might fall asleep again more easily.

Instead of panicking, maybe we should treat our midnight wakefulness like our ancestors did: as an opportunity.

Midnight Moments: The Best Bits of the Night

That twilight zone between sleeps wasn’t just about killing time. For many, it was the most peaceful, private part of the day.

  • Parents could finally talk without the kids around.
  • Quiet reflection happened without distraction.
  • Creativity flowed in that half-lit, half-awake state.
  • And yes, a bit of midnight nookie helped pass the time.

Sleep wasn’t a block to survive—it was a cycle to live with.

So… Should You Try It?

Maybe. If you’re waking naturally in the middle of the night, instead of lying there stressing about your inbox or life choices, try leaning into it.

  • Read by soft light.
  • Journal a bit.
  • Brew some herbal tea.
  • Meditate or pray, if that’s your thing.
  • Or just sit and listen to the quiet. It might be the most medievally wholesome part of your day.

What we call “insomnia” might sometimes just be history calling you home.

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