The Winter Slumber: Why Your Body Craves More Sleep in the Dark Months
New research suggests humans experience "seasonal sleep," needing up to an hour more rest in winter. Discover how REM and deep sleep change with the seasons.
By: AXL Media
Published: Mar 30, 2026, 6:12 AM EDT
Source: BBC new
The "Seasonal Sleep" Discovery
A study conducted at St Hedwig Hospital in Berlin analyzed 188 patients with sleep disturbances. Despite living in cities where artificial light often masks natural day-night cycles, the participants showed clear seasonal variations:
Winter Gain: Total sleep time was roughly 60 minutes longer in mid-winter.
REM Expansion: REM sleep—the stage associated with dreaming and circadian regulation—was 30 minutes longer in winter than in summer.
Deep Sleep (SWS) Shifts: Slow-wave sleep (SWS), crucial for tissue repair and memory consolidation, peaked in winter and hit its lowest point in September.
Why Do We Need More Winter Rest?
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