516-800-8000 FriedmanSimon.com
390 N. Broadway, #210 Jericho, NY 11753
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
The Write Way to Wellness INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 A-Listers Who Haven’t Aged a Day
IMEs Are Critical in Personal Injury Litigation Heroic Soccer Goalie Credited With Saving a Fan’s Life
3
Grilled Steak With Chimichurri Sauce
4
A Deep Dive Into Medieval Slumber
did farmwork, and prayed. Often, people socialized with each other, but the busy schedules of farming families cut down on chatting time. After they went to bed for a second sleep, they’d wake up at dawn. Not everyone kept to the schedule. Young children slept all night unless they woke up to the commotion. Benedictine monks dozed at 7 p.m. and woke at 2 a.m. for prayer, staying awake until an afternoon nap. Still, most people followed the two-part sleep schedule, and medieval medicine even discussed how to do it properly. For example, medical texts recommended that they lie on their right side during the first sleep and switch to the left on the second sleep. It’s really not that weird — research suggests that biphasic sleep is quite natural and influenced more by lifestyle compatibility, which means the eight-hour schedule likely evolved as cultures industrialized. Our emphasis on uninterrupted slumber also coalesces with our invention of modern mattresses, and this may not be a coincidence. Sleeping is much more enjoyable if you lie down on a soft mattress than a bed of prickly straw.
UNUSUAL SLEEP PRACTICES IN THE MIDDLE AGES: THE 2 ACTS OF MEDIEVAL SLUMBER
In the Middle Ages, most people didn’t sleep for eight uninterrupted hours like we do today. Instead, they had a “biphasic” sleep schedule, which means they had two sleep phases, one in the evening with a brief period of activity in the middle. For first sleep, the household typically slept from 9–11 p.m. They slept on one single straw mattress. Everyone — including children, parents, and visitors — huddled on one bed.
Despite the lack of space, they tried to make it as comfortable as possible with complex sleeping arrangements. Touching, kicking, or any other restless activity was considered rude. Meanwhile, girls slept closest to the wall, followed by boys, guests, and parents. While they didn’t have alarm clocks back then, they had an internal clock that woke them up around midnight. Once they woke, they had plenty to do. They refueled the fire,
4
FriedmanSimon.com
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator