Do You Sleep Like a Victorian?

[Eleanor Rose]

The Somnambulist by John Everett Millais - 1871 (Public Domain)​

Could sleeping like a Victorian be the next trend that promises wellness? Dr. Michael Mosley, British science journalist and health author, explains that in pre-industrial times, people went to sleep when it got dark (because what else is one supposed to do without Netflix and smartphones?). They would sleep an average of five hours or so, then wake up in the middle of the night and begin "doing household chores, visiting friends or enjoying a bit of intimacy," before returning to bed for their "second sleep." Known as biphasic sleeping, researchers say this way of slumber was standard before the advent of electric lights and alarm clocks. However, by the 1920s the concept of a first and second sleep had basically disappeared and continuous sleep had become the new normal.

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with your mind racing, only to fall asleep not long before the alarm sounds? I call this "busy brain," those mystical hours in the middle of the night when the tiniest of things grow in my mind to the most dramatic of proportions. The technical term for this is "sleep maintenance insomnia." Various experts recommend various solutions like getting up and reading, but I usually just wrestle with it until my imagination calms down and I fall back asleep. Unfortunately that can sometimes take awhile. But what if there is something to the idea of embracing the wakefulness instead? What if we embraced the idea of biphasic sleep like our Victorian friends did?

Research suggests that biphasic sleeping is more natural and "each of the two sleeps has an important and distinct function, aiding the body's repair processes, helping sort memories and also emotionally process the events of the day." Do you think biphasic sleep is a good idea? Would you ever give it a try? I certainly hope sleeping like a Victorian wouldn't lead to having the lifespan of a Victorian.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Victorians were fascinated by somnambulists. They were captivated by what a somnambulist represented and revealed. Most believed the sleepwalker represented the hidden potential within one's self for either greatness or deviance. They thought sleepwalking allowed the person to experience a fuller existence than consciousness has an awareness of.

 

[dhh712]

Could sleeping like a Victorian be the next trend that promises wellness? Dr. Michael Mosley, British science journalist and health author, explains that in pre-industrial times, people went to sleep when it got dark (because what else is one supposed to do without Netflix and smartphones?). They would sleep an average of five hours or so, then wake up in the middle of the night and begin "doing household chores, visiting friends or enjoying a bit of intimacy," before returning to bed for their "second sleep." Known as biphasic sleeping, researchers say this way of slumber was standard before the advent of electric lights and alarm clocks. However, by the 1920s the concept of a first and second sleep had basically disappeared and continuous sleep had become the new normal.

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with your mind racing, only to fall asleep not long before the alarm sounds? I call this "busy brain," those mystical hours in the middle of the night when the tiniest of things grow in my mind to the most dramatic of proportions. The technical term for this is "sleep maintenance insomnia." Various experts recommend various solutions like getting up and reading, but I usually just wrestle with it until my imagination calms down and I fall back asleep. Unfortunately that can sometimes take awhile. But what if there is something to the idea of embracing the wakefulness instead? What if we embraced the idea of biphasic sleep like our Victorian friends did?

Research suggests that biphasic sleeping is more natural and "each of the two sleeps has an important and distinct function, aiding the body's repair processes, helping sort memories and also emotionally process the events of the day." Do you think biphasic sleep is a good idea? Would you ever give it a try? I certainly hope sleeping like a Victorian wouldn't lead to having the lifespan of a Victorian.

This is crazy. Some of my best nights and most productive times have been when I've fallen asleep a bit early, waken up in the middle of the night and got some things done, then went back to bed for the rest of the night. This is the first time I've ever even heard of this as something that people have done regularly. The few times over the past couple decades I have done this, I thought it was incredibly abnormal. I might actually try to do this some nights and see how it works.

 

[jackt62]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who goes to bed, wakes up several hours later, then either reads or putters around before being able to get back to sleep.

 

[Northern Light]

I do this too. It can be frustrating when you need to get up and do something early, however.

 

[Larryh86GT]

If Victorians had flannel sheets and an electric blanket and a comforter then I sleep like a Victorian.

 

[Mrs. V]

This concept is older than Victorian times btw. I have read that this was common in Medieval times as well. I'd get up, but then I know I would disturb the rest of the house. My witching hour is about 3 am. I typically go to be at about 10, as I get up at 6:15 or so.

 

[Forks of the Ohio]

They would sleep an average of five hours or so, then wake up in the middle of the night and begin "doing household chores, visiting friends or enjoying a bit of intimacy," before returning to bed for their "second sleep."​

Visiting friends?

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Visiting friends?

I know, right? I can't imagine how that worked. I'm picturing Victorians wearing chaste white gowns and lace-trimmed nightcaps knocking on their neighbor's door at 3AM .

 

[Eleanor Rose]

This concept is older than Victorian times btw. I have read that this was common in Medieval times as well.

So true. It seems from time immemorial to the 19th century the dominant pattern of sleep in Western societies was biphasic. This is referenced in Homer's Odyssey, written in either the late eighth or early seventh century B.C. The growing prevalence of artificial light led to consolidating these two phases of sleep into a compressed single sleep cycle.

 

[Mrs. V]

So true. It seems from time immemorial to the 19th century the dominant pattern of sleep in Western societies was biphasic. This is referenced in Homer's Odyssey, written in either the late eighth or early seventh century B.C. The growing prevalence of artificial light led to consolidating these two phases of sleep into a compressed single sleep cycle.

Or non-sleep cycle, as the case may be!

 

[GwilymT]

I am in the wakefulness part of a biphasic sleep this very moment. Great thread. Though I must agree that it would be strange to have friends visit at this hour.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Read about this is a book- is it " Bright "? Rats- can't remember what it's called. There was apparently an explanation having to do with lack of electricity although I still don't see why it became a thing. Premise was everyone went to bed early so they were awake in the middle of the night. BUT why would there be more light at 1 a.m. ? It's a great book anyway, how much the light bulb changed society.

I get up at 4 and stay up. It's amazing how many crabby people think it's weird to wake them up, too. Best part of the day.

 

[pamc153PA]

I have heard about this, as well, though more in the medieval time period than Victorian. I have to say that I like the idea, but since I regularly have to be up by 5 a.m. during the school year, I'd have to go to bed when the rest of my family is still awake and our house is never quiet! I am also a night owl, so I'm not sure how I'd work that. Maybe when I retire, I'll give it a try!

 

[Eleanor Rose]

I am also a night owl, so I'm not sure how I'd work that. Maybe when I retire, I'll give it a try!

Pam, more likely than not you'll actually embrace being a night owl and enjoy the benefits of being able to sleep later each morning. That's what I did. I admire folks like Annie - real "morning people." I faked that for 30 years. My students and staff deserved a smiling face and cheery hello. Now Douglas and I go to bed when we get sleepy and allow ourselves to wake without an alarm. That is unless I'm providing coaching in a school or we're traveling. For some reason we turn into "morning people" when we're on a trip. We are typically very active during the day (like our Victorian friends would have been) when we're on vacation and so we're ready to fall asleep early.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Speaking of creepy somnambulists. This screen shot from 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' a 1920 German horror movie.

Werner Krauss (Dr. Caligari), Conrad Veidt (Cesare the somnambulist) and Lil Dagover (Jane).


Anyone here have an episode of sleep paralysis? I have a couple times. You can't move or talk. Kind of like being between asleep and awake.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Waking up in the middle of the night for a brief bathroom visit is very normal for me. But a sustained wakeup basically only happens when I'm ill.

 

[lupaglupa]

Visiting friends?

I think the "visiting" was with, ahem, very intimate and nearby friends. The sort you find by rolling over.

 

[lupaglupa]

There are multiple mentions of these middle of the night wakeful periods in Pepys diaries. It really was the norm then.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Love this thread!!

If I could live following my own rules, I would absolutely prefer "biphasic sleep". As it is I have to get up at 5:30am, but as my biorhythm is more that of a night owl, I usually stay awake until about midnight... which leads to sleep deprivation and all its ugly effects, like being constantly tired during the day... but when I retire earlier, I often wake up between 3 and 4 with my mind racing. I so hate that, to know that now I have 2 hours still until the alarm goes off, then 90 minutes, then one precious hour... I should really better try to do something productive!

As for our Victorian friends visiting people in the middle of the night: that probably would be in nights with full moon. I once read a Jane Austen novel and came across a sentence saying that someone wanted to visit someone else, but as it was full moon, nobody was at home. I looked that up and found that with no street lights, people depended on moonlit nights to find their way to the home of friends and back. So streets were crowded during full moon nights, like they are now during rush hour!

Now Douglas and I go to bed when we get sleepy and allow ourselves to wake without an alarm. That is unless I'm providing coaching in a school or we're traveling. For some reason we turn into "morning people" when we're on a trip. We are typically very active during the day (like our Victorian friends would have been) when we're on vacation and so we're ready to fall asleep early.

Same here! Another reason why we love coming to the US! With the time difference, we can easily get up at 6 and start our day very early. Okay, we usually fall into our beds at 10pm then, but as we are not particularly interested in bars or nightlife of sorts, that means no hardship to us. At home though, I would love to allow me the luxury to retire very late and sleep in. I have already promised myself, first thing I will do when I will retire in 7 1/2 years, I will dump my alarm clock. Probably the most hated item in my household and a most despised symbol of heteronomous living!