Graduate student tests medieval sleep schedule and reports heightened alertness

Over a four-week period, Anna Fox experimented with a medieval-inspired sleep routine, sleeping for about four and a half hours, waking, and then sleeping again until morning. The schedule, which she followed while on a university break in North Carolina, gave her quiet nighttime hours that she filled with reading, journaling, and creative writing. One outlet's reports feeling more alert despite getting less total sleep and says the experience helped her curb phone use and instant-gratification habits.

She found the early-morning wakefulness both peaceful and productive, though some nights required a strong effort to get out of bed. While she does not intend to make the pattern a nightly habit, she plans to use it selectively for creative or contemplative purposes in the future.