Sleep in a 1-year diary from the mid-18th century

Abstract

A 1-year systematic diary was kept by an anonymous diarist in Hamburg in the year 1755–1756. Sleep, activities, food intake, urine volume, and meteorological data were documented daily. The systematic recording of sleep and naps, with an accuracy of a quarter of an hour allowed analysis of the placement, duration, and consistency of sleep. The mean (range) night sleep duration was 6 (3–9) h. The distribution of sleep interruptions showed two peaks, short (≤30 min) and long (≥45 min) interruptions. The latter indicted nights with segmented sleep. Time in bed was subject to strong seasonal variations. Bedtime and rise time were earlier in summer than in winter and sleep latency was shorter in summer than in winter. However, sleep duration displayed a large spread in all seasons and did not differ substantially between summer and winter. Seasonal variations of sleep timing were related to the varying daylight hours during the year. Finally, the results of this individual case may prompt a more detailed investigation of the variability of sleep behaviour in the pre-industrial period.