Medieval sleep had a midnight break

In pre-industrial Europe, people slept in two distinct phases instead of one continuous stretch. They would wake around midnight for hours called the watch before returning to bed until sunrise.

The watch was time for living

During their midnight waking, medieval people might do chores, pray, write letters by candlelight, or have sex. This biphasic sleep pattern was common across pre-industrial Europe, unlike our modern goal of uninterrupted slumber.

A student tries medieval sleep

This past summer, Anna Fox, a graduate student at North Carolina State University, decided to experiment with biphasic sleep.She woke between one thirty a.m.and three thirty a.m., reading, writing letters, journalling and working creatively.

Fox documents her experiment online

Fox documented her biphasic sleep experiment on social media. Thousands of people tuned in to follow her experience with this medieval sleep practice.

She hoped it would cure fatigue

Fox tells Fast Company: It was kinda just curiosity to see what would happen. Part of me was secretly hoping I was built for a medieval lifestyle and it would cure my chronic fatigue.

“It was kinda just curiosity to see what would happen. Part of me was secretly hoping I was built for a medieval lifestyle and it would cure my chronic fatigue.”

The chronic fatigue didn't improve

While Fox's chronic fatigue did not improve, the experiment produced an unexpected result. The time for contemplation during her midnight waking drastically affected her creativity in surprising ways.

Her poetry improved dramatically

Fox discovered she was writing better poetry than she had ever written in her life. The midnight hours of uninterrupted creative time produced work that exceeded her previous output.

“I was writing better poetry than I've ever written in my life.”

Her rules protected the experience

Fox set strict rules for her biphasic sleep experiment: no overhead lighting, no phone, and no to-do list items. These constraints shaped how she used her midnight waking hours.

Medieval sleep versus modern hustle

The experiment highlights a contrast between medieval biphasic sleep and modern hustle culture. Pre-industrial sleep patterns built in time for contemplation, unlike today's pressure for constant productivity and uninterrupted work.

No burnout or smartphones needed

People in the Middle Ages did not need burnout or smartphones to disrupt their sleep schedules. Yet their interrupted sleep pattern may not have been a bad thing, as Fox's experience suggests.

Contemplation time boosts creativity

Fox's experiment demonstrates that dedicated time for contemplation without distractions or productivity demands can enhance creative output. The medieval practice of biphasic sleep may offer insights for modern creative work.