{
  "id": 14487253,
  "title": "What this medieval sleep practice tells us about today’s hustle culture",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/what-this-medieval-sleep-practice-tells-us-about-todays-hustle-culture",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-14T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91623092/what-this-medieval-sleep-practice-tells-us-about-todays-hustle-culture"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the year 1600, sleep in medieval times was not as straightforward as it is today. Instead of the eight-hour block most of us are accustomed to, people would break their sleep into two stages—a period known as “the watch” around midnight. This practice, known as biphasic sleep, was quite common in pre-industrial Europe. Anna Fox, a graduate student at North Carolina State University, decided to experiment with this medieval sleep pattern in 2021. For a week, she woke up between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m., using the time to read, write, journal, and work creatively. Fox documented her findings on social media, hoping to explore the potential benefits of this historical sleep schedule.\n\nFox's experiment proved successful in one aspect: it significantly boosted her creativity. She claimed she was writing poetry better than ever before. However, she didn't expect this outcome. Fox set strict rules during her experiment, including no artificial lighting, no phone use, and no to-do lists. She aimed to focus on the peacefulness of the midnight hours without the distractions of modern life.\n\nThis experiment isn't the only instance where biphasic sleep has been explored. Historical figures such as Charles Dickens and Thomas Edison were known to practice polyphasic or biphasic sleep patterns. Edison, for instance, believed that he only needed four hours of sleep per night and claimed to conduct \"night walks\" during his off-hours.\n\nAs we move further from the medieval era, the prominence of biphasic sleep has diminished. The Industrial Revolution brought about artificial lighting, which allowed people to extend their waking hours well into the night. This change in lighting, combined with the rise of the modern 40-hour work week, resulted in many people adopting monophasic sleep—sleeping in a single stretch. Despite this shift, some still experience waking up in the middle of the night and struggle to fall back asleep.\n\nThe question remains: should we learn from our ancestors and embrace biphasic sleep patterns? While some argue that it could enhance creativity and productivity, a 2021 review published in Sleep Health found no substantial cognitive or health benefits to this sleep style. In fact, it was associated with adverse physical, mental, and performance outcomes. A low amount of sleep is generally considered harmful for long-term health, and dividing sleep into several shorter periods may disrupt our natural sleep architecture. Therefore, while biphasic sleep was once a common practice, it may not be the ideal solution for modern productivity and health.",
  "summary": "The year is 1600. The sun has just set and you’re tucked up on your canvas sack on the floor. But shut-eye in medieval times had a twist: instead of the eight-hours-a-night routine we’re familiar with, going to bed in the olden days meant getting up around midnight for a chunk of time known as “the watch” before hitting the hay again until morning. Maybe you get on with some chores. Maybe ponder…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}