Why Waking Up in the Night Is Natural

Until the 19th Century, people swore by the benefits of a first and second sleep, according to Professor Roger Ekirch of Virginia Polytechnic and State University. People regularly used to have two periods of sleep and do tasks in between.

It may bring some comfort to those who go to bed, only to wake up in the middle of the night frustratedly unable to get back to sleep.

While today this is seen as insomnia, until the end of the 19th century people did it on purpose.

Well after the Industrial Revolution, many people in Britain still swore by the health benefits of a ‘first sleep’ and ‘second sleep’. Read more