RESEARCHERS: SLEEP TWICE A DAY

A couple of researchers say our body clocks are better suited to two shorter chunks of sleep rather than for one long period. Around a third of the population have trouble sleeping, including difficulties maintaining sleep throughout the night. Dr. Melinda Jackson, a psychologist specializing in sleep disorders at RMIT University in Australia and Dr. Siobhan Banks, a sleep researcher at the University of South Australia, say sleeping for 8 hours is a modern concept and split sleep used to be normal. They say that throughout history there have been accounts of segmented sleep – and such patterns are seen today in cultures who take a siesta. Sleeping in two periods may increase alertness in the day and provide people with more flexibility to carry out work and spend time with their family, they said.
* The two doctors had more to say, but it was time for their nap.
* A good schedule might be to sleep during the night, and then again while you’re listening to this show.
* Hey, maybe these doctors could write a note telling our bosses we need to take a nap in the afternoon.
* I put this in the same category as eating 6 small meals a day. There might be some science to it, but it’s just not going to happen.