You’ve probably heard the mantra: you need eight hours of perfect, uninterrupted sleep to be healthy. According to sleep scientist Dr Merijn Van de Laar… that’s a myth. For most of human history, we didn’t sleep in one solid block—we’d doze, wake up, move around, keep watch, maybe chat quietly, then drift back off to sleep. Those patterns are still hardwired into how the human body is designed to rest. In this episode, Dr. Merijn explains: -Why waking up at night can be normal and sometimes even better for you -How to know if sharing a bed is helping or hurting your sleep -Why your “natural” sleep rhythm might not match the 9–5 world (and what to do about it) -The surprising role dreaming plays in mental health and creativity -How to reframe insomnia, delayed sleep phase syndrome, and “night waking” so they stop running your life This is a deep dive into the evolution of rest—and how to work with your body’s design instead of fighting against it. Full show notes: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/cavemansleep Additional Resources: Ben Greenfield Life Website: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/ Ben Greenfield Life Podcast: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/podcast/ Ben Greenfield Books: https://shopbengreenfieldlife.com/collections/books Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bengreenfieldfitness/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BGFitness X https://twitter.com/bengreenfield TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@bengreenfield