Sleeping: once very normal, now a luxury
Sleeping seems like something taken for granted. Yet our way of sleeping is surprisingly young . Only a few hundred years ago did everything change—and it all has to do with light.
Sleeping before the lamp
Well into the 19th century, people lived completely in tune with the sun's rhythm. Once it got dark, there was little to do. Candles and oil lamps were expensive and weak. The result?
People went to bed early and often slept ten to eleven hours a night .
Historical sources even show that sleeping was sometimes divided into two parts:
First sleep (right after sunset)
Second sleep (after a short period of being awake)
This was normal, healthy and socially accepted.
The big change: artificial light
With Thomas Edison 's invention of the light bulb, daily life changed radically. Evenings grew longer. Work, relaxation, and social activities shifted further into the night.
Light meant freedom — but also loss of sleep .
From eleven to eight hours (or less)
Where people used to sleep an average of around eleven hours a night , that has now dropped to about seven to eight hours . In practice, it's often even less.
Causes:
Artificial light
Screens (phone, TV, laptop)
Always "on"
Less fixed routines
Our brains are n't evolutionarily adapted to that. You can feel it.
Sleeping is not a luxury, but a necessity
Sleep supports:
Recovery of body and mind
Emotional balance
Focus and memory
Resistance and energy
Yet we often treat sleep as something that “adds on,” rather than as a foundation.
Back to peace — in a modern way
We can't go back to candlelight and sunset. But we can be more mindful of relaxation and evening rest.
For many people, a fixed evening time helps, fewer stimuli and a clear signal to the body: it is time to sleep .
👉 That's why we have Sleep Bears — a small, simple nighttime ritual.
Discover them on the main page: https://slaapberen.com
Conclusion
We don't sleep worse because we've become weaker.
We sleep worse because our world has become faster.
Maybe sleeping better isn't a step forward — but rather a small step backward .
Good night. 🐻💤
