The First and Second Sleep
Until the industrial era, many Western Europeans divided the night into “the first” and the “second sleep.” They’d go to bed soon after dark, sleep for four hours then wake for an hour or two during which they’d write, pray, smoke, reflect on dreams they’d had, have sex or even visit neighbors. In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest that this sleep pattern may be the one most in tune with our inherent circadian rhythms.
An interesting concept that I would like to try. I have always found sleep research fascinating but the idea of dividing sleep in this way not just for a recharge of energy but to allow a part of every night to be allotted specifically for leisure seems very therapeutic.