This article explores the cultural obsession with sleep and how it has ironically fueled sleep anxiety. It delves into the history of human sleep patterns, revealing that intermittent sleep was once the norm. By reframing insomnia as a gift of extra time, the author discovered new possibilities and found solace in the stillness of the night.
We live in a world obsessed with sleep, bombarded with advice on how to achieve the perfect seven to eight hours of unbroken slumber. We are encouraged to track, count, and monitor every aspect of our sleep, constantly reminded that it is our superpower. But this relentless pursuit of sleep perfection has, ironically, amplified our sleep anxiety . The truth is, humans have always experienced periods of short, broken sleep.
For centuries, night was a time of activity, punctuated by interruptions for rituals, caring for young ones, and dealing with the realities of life. Even into the Industrial Revolution, sleeping in two chunks was common practice, with a midday siesta offering a chance for spiritual or creative reflection.My own struggle with insomnia was transformed when I reframed it as a gift of extra time. Instead of fearing the sleepless nights, I used them to explore the history and science of slumber. I discovered the fascinating accounts of our ancestors who thrived on intermittent sleep, the wisdom held in biphasic sleep patterns, and the comforting solace found in stargazing on moonlit nights. This shift in perspective helped me to quiet the anxiety and eventually, I found myself sleeping again.
Sleep Insomnia Sleep Anxiety Biphasic Sleep History Of Sleep Mindfulness Nighttime Activities
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