How the Art of Sleep Has Changed Over Time The History of Snoozing night — known as biphasic sleep — with a gap of wakefulness in between to eat, pray, talk, read, or write by candlelight. But by the 1920s, this practice of having two sleep sessions each night entirely receded from the social consciousness. Historians attribute this shift to innovations in artificial lighting and work schedules during the Industrial Revolution that required workers to stay up longer and sleep less. Cozy Blankets Most people find it difficult to sleep without some kind of covering, like a blanket, over their bodies. While researchers of the past entertained the idea that blankets offer some kind of primal protection for sleepers, they now believe the coverings help with temperature regulation, as maintaining a comfortable body temperature is necessary for good sleep. However, according to a recent study conducted in Sweden, weighted blankets help with much more than just temperature. Due to the added pressure, weighted blankets provide deep pressure touch (DPT), which increases the body’s amount of serotonin — a chemical that helps decrease blood pressure and rapid heart rate. Because of the effects of increased serotonin, weighted blankets are believed to help with anxiety and insomnia. While sleep patterns may change over time, the human need for sleep will not. As you crawl into your bed tonight, take some time to think about the way your ancestors approached their nightly snooze sessions. It’ll put you to sleep faster than counting sheep.
There are few things
in life that feel better than crawling into a comfy
bed after a long day. Sleep is an essential part of human health. After a mere 24 hours of
sleep deprivation, bodily functions and mental faculties start to go haywire, and 11 days seems to be the longest a person can live without sleep. While people acknowledge
that sleep has always been a necessary part of human existence, very few know how drastically nightly routines have changed over time. Here are three significantly different historical approaches to sleep.
Brain Floods For centuries, theorists associated sleep with blood loss and other health problems. But by the 1800s, notable physicians blamed sleep on a process known as congestion theory. In this theory, sleep was thought to be brought on by an overwhelming flow of blood to the brain, effectively flooding it and sending sleepers into a dreamlike state. Sleep Gaps While many modern sleep experts support the consecutive eight-hour sleep regimen, historically, people had completely different sleep schedules. Medieval society actually had two sleep sessions a
Get Motivated to Spring-Clean With These Three Books INSPIRATIONAL BOOKSHELF
As spring finally makes its way to the Northeast, the itch to spruce up your space may become stronger than ever. Tackling your spring- cleaning to-do list can be overwhelming, especially when you don't know where to start. Get motivated with one of the following books focused on organizing for your most successful spring-cleaning season yet!
concept of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah), which is the Danish concept of happiness through comfort. Maybe you find hygge snuggled up on your couch or when you’re surrounded by some of your
‘Simple Matters’ by Erin Boyle
closest friends. Regardless of where you find your hygge, Wiking’s book introduces you to the ways you can capture it in your life.
In her debut book, “Simple Matters: Living With Less and Ending Up with More,” Erin Boyle details her family’s experiences with small, simple living. Targeted at those looking to “declutter, organize, and simplify,” Boyle highlights the ecological, personal, and health benefits of living with less stuff and doing more with what you’ve been given. Currently residing in a small New York City apartment with her spouse and two children, Boyle doesn’t just provide advice to her readers; she walks the walk, offering her experiences through her book and on her blog, ReadingMyTeaLeaves.com.
‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’ by Marie Kondō
How could we have a spring-cleaning book list without decluttering legend Marie Kondō? Her 2014 bestseller “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” has ushered in a wave of ultra-motivated spring-cleaners. A Japanese cleaning consultant, Kondō urges her readers to determine which items in their homes “spark joy,” and if a particular item doesn’t, it must be tossed or donated. Kondō boasts a perfect track record, with none of her personal clients lapsing back into their old ways. (If books aren’t your style, Kondō’s Netflix special has also been making waves.)
‘The Little Book of Hygge’ by Meik Wiking
If you’re looking for a little more satisfaction in life, look no further than the country most consider the happiest on Earth! “The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well” by Meik Wiking highlights the
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