It Turns Out We've Been Sleeping Wrong For Centuries

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Thoughty2 (Arran) is a British YouTuber and gatekeeper of useless facts. Thoughty2 creates mind-blowing factual videos about science, tech, history, opinion and just about everything else.
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Writing: Steven Rix
Editing: Jack Stevens

[TeeKing]

As a child, I would get in trouble for waking up in the middle of the night and reading by flashlight. At 61, I don't need the flashlight because I pay the electric bill.

[EmmieBruin]

Since Ive retired and no longer adhere to a specific schedule, Ive reverted to sleeping this way. I kinda love being awake when the world is asleep...its so very quiet and different.

[lunaumbra]

The industrial revolution would have put a stop to naps. The masses were told when to wake up and when to sleep according to working hours. It still persists today.

[MrHwsmp]

This is very interesting. I'm 57, and for the last 10 years or so, for a variety of shifting reasons, I haven't been tied to the standard 9-5 working hours. I've started sleeping exactly like this. It doesn't matter how early or late I go to sleep, unless I'm absolutely, physically shattered, I wake up 4 hours later. I'm then wide awake for about 2 hours, before I crash again for up to 4. The 4 hours limit seems very "hard". What does disturb it is the addictive nature of Youtube videos and social media (I don't have TV): the "just one more video" psychology is real.

[BarbaricAvatar]

Wait, waitwaitwaitwaitwait. You mean to say that my so-called "sleeping disorder" is actually just me doing it in the way that everyone else is supposed to?!

[willambernahecooking]

My mother told me about this kind of thing when I was a kid. She said people used to sleep for a few hours, wake up, check on the animals or whatever, then go back to sleep.

[RedQueenOfficial]

Night owls also may be genetically linked to ancestors who stayed awake at night to protect their tribes, ensuring the group’s safety.

[LCMM]

Nobody "forgot" how to sleep. People were just FORCED to squeeze sleep in the time they weren't working! As simple as that!

[TeeKing]

Second sleep, second breakfast. Maybe I'm a Hobbitt?

[CeliaMcKenna]

In the 90s, I spent some time living in two areas of Uganda with limited or no electricity. Many people, particularly women and children I think, did seem to have biphasic sleep patterns, going to sleep after the sun went down, then getting up to prepare food to eat about midnight. In a village, I was once persuaded out into the darkness after eating. I had been summoned earlier in the day by the local police and thought I had avoided this and was dismayed and bemused to find myself expected to go now at 1am. I was further bemused to find half the village awake and congregated in the main street where all the shops were open, lit by paraffin lamps. It was quite a social event, everyone standing around talking and laughing. As It turned out, I had actually been summoned by the police to drink waragi and party at their place. Everyone went back home to sleep about 3 am or so. At the time I didn't know about biphasic sleeping patterns, but it all makes sense now!

[jakubklabnik]

Im from central europe and my granddad told me that his great granddad had told him that before the electric lightning they had used to go to sleep as soon as the sunset, then wake up around 3 am, go chat with the neighbours, feed the animals and milk the cows for a hour or so and then go to sleep again for around 2, 5 hours. I think it is fascinating that it wasn't weird for them just to "invade" their neighbours or that they were tired enough to fall asleep again.

[fisherkingpoet]

this is really comforting! i'm sitting here watching this in the middle of the night between two sleeps, and for the first time not feeling dread that something's wrong and i'm going to pay for this. now i just need to convince my boss and coworkers that we should bring back after-lunch naps...

[liamrescorla]

I am a biphasic sleeper. And I had never heard of it until this video. I just thought I was weird. Every single night I wake, then after an hour or two sleep again. Every night. I’ve watched your videos for years but none have ever made me feel like this.

[stephanygates]

I've fallen into this pattern naturally, upon retirement. I thought I'd lost my circadian rhythm. Now I'll feel good about it!

[ircha]

I slept half the night. Got up. Saw this.

[nicalicious]

100% poly-phasic sleep pattern here. Go to bed at 10. Wake up at 2. Go back to sleep at 5. Up at 8. Nap at noon.

[ZiekElMeek]

It would make sense that we were always biphasic sleepers. Our ancestors had to wake up and check the fire!

[BevenOiCarrinuinn]

If you are keeping warm by a wood fire, It is much easier to make a fire that will last unattended for 4-5 hours. 8 hours at a streach is possible, but not easy. The patern makes sense if you need to wake in the middle of the night to tend the fire.

[DarkTemplarrr]

All my life I’ve had “sleep issues” with monophasic sleep pattern. Ignoring my body signalling me to sleep at 8pm. Naturally waking up at 1am feeling completely refreshed. I would then spent hours being upset to why I’m awake in the middle of the night. So upset I can’t go back to sleep, to the point I was so sleep deprived I felt like I was dying. Now that I’ve seen this video; I now enjoy this time able to go back to sleep. Whether I’m watching movies, reading, journaling or meditating.

New sleep pattern:
8pm - 12am
2am - 6am

Thank you, you have saved my life 🙏🏾❤🙏🏾❤️

[ItsJustJussi]

At Midsomer at my summer cottage (no distractions), when the sun doesn't set I've noticed I sleep in 2 phases sometimes. If I have a busy day and I go to sleep about 10pm and wake at 2am for a few hours and then I sleep 2-3 hours or so in the morning. It's amazing having a hot cup at 2-4am and watching everything and everyone sleep. Sitting on the deck and watching a calm lake is so soothing.