Uncover the Truth: 7 Sleep Myths That Will Change Your Nights

Sleep patterns have varied greatly throughout history, and it’s fascinating to explore how the modern expectation of eight straight hours of slumber came to be. Deep in the quiet of the French countryside, monks at a centuries-old monastery follow a different rhythm: they retire at 7:30 PM, rising just before midnight to chant psalms, then returning to rest until 6:45 AM. This "biphasic" sleep cycle is a tradition dating back to medieval times, and surprisingly, it mirrors practices observable in a variety of traditional cultures around the globe.

Some recent studies have examined how our ancestors might have slept. A group of individuals immersed in a Stone Age-like setting—free from the distractions of electricity and smartphones—found themselves naturally going to bed early and sleeping a full two hours longer per night. Similarly, in cultures where siestas are common, people often enjoy a long midday nap, resulting in shorter nighttime sleep. “Sleep is extremely adaptable,” asserts Leon Lack from the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health at Flinders University. He emphasizes that the societal norms we follow today are relatively new, shaped largely by industrialization, which has dictated that we stay awake for extended hours and only rest at night.

Moreover, our modern misconceptions about sleep add to the challenges many face when trying to achieve consistent restful nights. Such myths create unnecessary worries about sleep, which paradoxically make it even tougher to come by. As Lack explains, our brains remain highly active through the various sleep cycles, especially during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep where our dreams feel most vivid. While the patterns of our brainwaves during this phase closely resemble wakefulness, thankfully, our bodies are immobilized, preventing us from acting out those adventurous dreams!

Although restless nights are often labeled as “broken” sleep, this is a completely normal part of the sleep cycle. Lack encourages us not to fear those brief awakenings; traditionally, sleeping in groups allowed for these moments to serve as a real-time precaution against potential threats. However, he also notes that too much waking can become problematic, particularly when it limits our overall time for rest. The typical adult requires between seven to nine hours of sleep,