



“Biphasic sleep is sometimes known as ‘siesta sleep,’ a nod to some Western cultures, including Spain and Greece, that continue to incorporate the afternoon rest as part of their cultures and commonly held sleep patterns,” says Breus. While monophasic sleep is definitely the most prominent sleep pattern, there are plenty of countries that embrace a biphasic sleep pattern-particularly in Europe. “For example, a 6-hour nightly sleep period might be paired with a 30-90 minute nap during the day,” says Breus. It generally involves a long stretch of sleep during the night, and a much shorter block during the day. Your next option when it comes to shut-eye? Following a biphasic sleep pattern.īiphasic sleep is divided into two parts.
SLEEP EXPERT DR MICHAEL BREUS HOW TO
Related: How to Sleep Better: Science-Backed Sleep Hacks to Wake Up Ready to Go Biphasic sleep cycle “The shift to the 8-hour night of sleep may have been a relatively recent development, one that was spurred on by industrialization and widespread access to electricity and artificial light,” says Breus. “Basically, everyone else is on a monophonic sleep schedule, so you are in a rhythm with the rest of the world,” says Breus.Ī monophasic sleep pattern wasn’t always the norm. Monophasic sleep is the norm today-and following a “normal” sleep pattern definitely has its benefits. “Think about the sleep pattern most of us keep: a stretch of 7-8 hours a night asleep, followed by a long, usually unbroken stretch of wakefulness of about 16 hours, before dropping back into sleep,” says sleep expert Dr. The most common sleep cycle is the monophasic sleep pattern. Choosing the right sleep pattern for you.Let’s take a look at the three most common sleep cycles-and how to determine which is going to give you the high-quality zzz’s to function at your highest level. The good news is, when it comes to sleep, you’ve got options. The best sleep schedule for you and your body might fall outside conventional parameters. But while logging eight hours of sleep every night might be a great fit for your body - leaving you feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the day - there’s no one-size-fits-all-solution to sleep. Most of the conversation around proper sleep centers around the number of hours you’re getting (or not getting). When you think of getting a good night’s sleep, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Discover the differences between each cycle, and find out what steps you can take to make your environment more sleep-friendly.While most of the world embraces a monophasic approach to sleep, that doesn’t necessarily make it the best sleep cycle option for you.The three most types of sleep cycles-monophasic, biphasic, and polyphasic-involve different periods of rest.
