Polyphasic Sleep Experiment: Days 22-26
I'm one that deeply enjoys the current moment, whatever that may be.
If I'm playing video games, I'll prefer to keep playing video games. If I'm working on a particular project for work, I prefer to keep my work focused on that and not switch to something else. I was going to call it "social inertia", but it doesn't quite function like inertia... because long stretches can sometimes warrant change (while using "inertia" would imply that long stretches would likely be harder to change). It's just that, in general and on the short(ish) term, I prefer to continue doing whatever I'm doing. I hate to drop out of the "right now" moments.
So, I skipped a nap. Then proceeded to take a rather long pit stop. Twice.
Lemme back up some. :)
Days 22 (Wednesday) through 24 (Friday) were smooth. Astoundingly smooth. Naps were solid and extremely restful. I was up with the alarm and fully alert, even after core naps. My dreams were vivid (though not lucid) and interesting. I considered myself to be at the tail end of adaptation, with very little left that could throw me off my path. I was, to put it simply, feeling arrogant.
Insert any number of snippet comments like "Pride is a sin, you know", "Oh, how the mighty have fallen", or even "Ha ha!". See, this weekend has been a lesson in humility.
On Day 24, we went to visit one of my brothers, his wife, and some friends that all live together. They've been following this test to varying degrees, and were sympathetic. I got my fair share of ribbing about it, though, but it was good natured. (hmmm... need an update on the social life post: "Have a sense of humor; laugh at yourself about polynapping sometimes") I also got a fair deal of interest and questions about how it works, how I feel, why don't I crash and burn, etc.
I was fine taking naps while there. I would go over to a spare bedroom, nap with my cell phone alarm, and then rejoin the group. In general, my naps were a little late to get started, but not much (maye 30 to 45 minutes). I also pushed my 4 am nap to about 5 or so, when my wife was also going to sleep.
It wasn't really a problem, I thought, because I had pushed nap times to more extreme placements previously. So, I set my alarm in a place where I wouldn't climb across her to turn it off (on my side of the bed). I cranked up the electric blanket we had (room was kept a little chilly because, well, it's a spare, combined with an incompetent landlord), and snuggled next to my wife, quite cozy and warm. Then proceeded to sleep for 6 hours.
Next day, feeling good, I picked up where I left off, grabbing naps where I had planned. We ate at a really excellent sushi / hibachi place (soooo good), and then hit Dave & Busters. For those that don't know, it's an adult arcade. No, the games weren't pornographic, it's just an arcade that also has a bar, restaurant and an over-21 age requirement. It was noisy, exciting and just cool. And I love arcades. And I love going to arcades with the people I was with.
So I skipped my nap because I was so in the moment with everyone. I was having a really excellent time and didn't want to pull myself away. I tried at one point to nap, but I couldn't bring myself to go out to the car to nap. I should have followed my own advice. :)
Anyway, when we got back, I got a nap okay. We made and ate some great fondue, and generally hung out. When it came time for my risky nap (the 4 am-ish one, when I'm most groggy) my wife and I went to bed as before. I set my alarm for 90 minutes later, aiming for mild core sleep, rolled over and quickly snoozed.
...then woke up at 11:30 am.
Seems like a disaster? Two nights of 6+ hours? No. Learning points. Pit stops. :) I felt great the next day, and it reinforced a few points I've found already (but ignored over the weekend):
Alarm placement needs to be out of immediate reach. I need to at least sit up when handling the alarm. If I can reach it while still lying down, it's all over.
Lights need to be on, even if just dim. I've theorized on this before. Melatonin is probably no why I crash easily in darker places, but it still happens, regardless. It's just easier for me to roll over when it's dark. The light stimulus might still be enough to trigger something in my conscious brain. Perhaps it's just 24 years of conditioning that said, "It's dark. You should sleep." In any case, light helps me wake up, so I need to remember to utilize this tool.
Warm, but not hot. Too much heat makes me sleepy. Overly warm car trips make me fall asleep quickly. Blankets do the same for me, especially when there's a large difference from my blankets to the ambient air temperature. We cranked the electric blanket up, but with both our bodies' heat, we probably didn't need to do so. It made it too cozy to get up. So... fewer blankets, less heat, yeah.
Don't skip naps, even if you're having a good time. It's not bad. I can get back with the group in no time. I just need to step out for a bit. It's like going to the bathroom or something. It's just a need that takes me away for a brief period.
This weekend is not a loss. I learned. I reinvigorated. Plus, when monosleeping, I would consistenly sleep 4+ more hours each night already, so I haven't really lost anything. :)
My other naps since the long sleeps have been easy and restful. Makes me consider doing monthly monosleeps like has been attributed to Jefferson (haven't researched him, yet, though, but I plan to do so). Keeps covering the bases of sleep, and gives me even more safety buffer room.
As a side note: My wife has written a really excellent essay on her view as a "Polyphasic Sleep Widow". She did this without any prompting from me or knowing that Pavlina's wife posted her perspective as well, too. There are some really suprisingly similar themes in them both. I'll throw it up soon, and maybe think of a solution to the "cuddle problem." :)
-sean
If I'm playing video games, I'll prefer to keep playing video games. If I'm working on a particular project for work, I prefer to keep my work focused on that and not switch to something else. I was going to call it "social inertia", but it doesn't quite function like inertia... because long stretches can sometimes warrant change (while using "inertia" would imply that long stretches would likely be harder to change). It's just that, in general and on the short(ish) term, I prefer to continue doing whatever I'm doing. I hate to drop out of the "right now" moments.
So, I skipped a nap. Then proceeded to take a rather long pit stop. Twice.
Lemme back up some. :)
Days 22 (Wednesday) through 24 (Friday) were smooth. Astoundingly smooth. Naps were solid and extremely restful. I was up with the alarm and fully alert, even after core naps. My dreams were vivid (though not lucid) and interesting. I considered myself to be at the tail end of adaptation, with very little left that could throw me off my path. I was, to put it simply, feeling arrogant.
Insert any number of snippet comments like "Pride is a sin, you know", "Oh, how the mighty have fallen", or even "Ha ha!". See, this weekend has been a lesson in humility.
On Day 24, we went to visit one of my brothers, his wife, and some friends that all live together. They've been following this test to varying degrees, and were sympathetic. I got my fair share of ribbing about it, though, but it was good natured. (hmmm... need an update on the social life post: "Have a sense of humor; laugh at yourself about polynapping sometimes") I also got a fair deal of interest and questions about how it works, how I feel, why don't I crash and burn, etc.
I was fine taking naps while there. I would go over to a spare bedroom, nap with my cell phone alarm, and then rejoin the group. In general, my naps were a little late to get started, but not much (maye 30 to 45 minutes). I also pushed my 4 am nap to about 5 or so, when my wife was also going to sleep.
It wasn't really a problem, I thought, because I had pushed nap times to more extreme placements previously. So, I set my alarm in a place where I wouldn't climb across her to turn it off (on my side of the bed). I cranked up the electric blanket we had (room was kept a little chilly because, well, it's a spare, combined with an incompetent landlord), and snuggled next to my wife, quite cozy and warm. Then proceeded to sleep for 6 hours.
Next day, feeling good, I picked up where I left off, grabbing naps where I had planned. We ate at a really excellent sushi / hibachi place (soooo good), and then hit Dave & Busters. For those that don't know, it's an adult arcade. No, the games weren't pornographic, it's just an arcade that also has a bar, restaurant and an over-21 age requirement. It was noisy, exciting and just cool. And I love arcades. And I love going to arcades with the people I was with.
So I skipped my nap because I was so in the moment with everyone. I was having a really excellent time and didn't want to pull myself away. I tried at one point to nap, but I couldn't bring myself to go out to the car to nap. I should have followed my own advice. :)
Anyway, when we got back, I got a nap okay. We made and ate some great fondue, and generally hung out. When it came time for my risky nap (the 4 am-ish one, when I'm most groggy) my wife and I went to bed as before. I set my alarm for 90 minutes later, aiming for mild core sleep, rolled over and quickly snoozed.
...then woke up at 11:30 am.
Seems like a disaster? Two nights of 6+ hours? No. Learning points. Pit stops. :) I felt great the next day, and it reinforced a few points I've found already (but ignored over the weekend):
Alarm placement needs to be out of immediate reach. I need to at least sit up when handling the alarm. If I can reach it while still lying down, it's all over.
Lights need to be on, even if just dim. I've theorized on this before. Melatonin is probably no why I crash easily in darker places, but it still happens, regardless. It's just easier for me to roll over when it's dark. The light stimulus might still be enough to trigger something in my conscious brain. Perhaps it's just 24 years of conditioning that said, "It's dark. You should sleep." In any case, light helps me wake up, so I need to remember to utilize this tool.
Warm, but not hot. Too much heat makes me sleepy. Overly warm car trips make me fall asleep quickly. Blankets do the same for me, especially when there's a large difference from my blankets to the ambient air temperature. We cranked the electric blanket up, but with both our bodies' heat, we probably didn't need to do so. It made it too cozy to get up. So... fewer blankets, less heat, yeah.
Don't skip naps, even if you're having a good time. It's not bad. I can get back with the group in no time. I just need to step out for a bit. It's like going to the bathroom or something. It's just a need that takes me away for a brief period.
This weekend is not a loss. I learned. I reinvigorated. Plus, when monosleeping, I would consistenly sleep 4+ more hours each night already, so I haven't really lost anything. :)
My other naps since the long sleeps have been easy and restful. Makes me consider doing monthly monosleeps like has been attributed to Jefferson (haven't researched him, yet, though, but I plan to do so). Keeps covering the bases of sleep, and gives me even more safety buffer room.
As a side note: My wife has written a really excellent essay on her view as a "Polyphasic Sleep Widow". She did this without any prompting from me or knowing that Pavlina's wife posted her perspective as well, too. There are some really suprisingly similar themes in them both. I'll throw it up soon, and maybe think of a solution to the "cuddle problem." :)
-sean
posted by Sean @ 12/11/2005 08:04:00 PM
6 Comments:
I am surprised that you keep hitting the right clues and drawing wrong conclusions again and again.
You have definitely discovered that you sleep best in the night (say 4-11) and after a good night sleep naps may be redunant. Yet you love to swing back to your plan of fighting natural mechanisms of sleep.
Why would you want to get up at 4 am if you are groggy? And yet you say you feel great at 11:30 after 6 hours sleep? And then you are productive and alert and the day goes great. Why force naps while you do useful stuff? Why don't you simply sleep when sleepy and work when fresh-minded?
And the bold-faced conclusions are all upside down. Alarm should not be out of reach, but off. The lights are best off while asleep (unless you want to elicit a phase response for any reason).
Ah yes, afaics, I am the only one that rants against polyphasic sleep :)
I will sign as mc (no more, my boss might google out my during-work pursuits :)
As for references, do you mean support for "alarm interrupts NREM:REM cycle"? I am sure you will quickly google sth out with circadian+homeostatic or similar. btw: should that not be obvious? if there is a well-regulated homeostatic mechanism for switching between the two, stepping in with a pair of dirty alarm boots will mess your brain pretty well...
I am happy you got a great day. Keep getting those 6+ babies and life is gonna go great!
mc
check this one:
http://www.striz.org/docs/sleep2.pdf
What do you think the graphs on page 3 explain to "polyphasic sleepers"?
ain't that scary?
mc
Ah, I thought it was still you, Milan, but didn't want to assume. I'm glad you're still posting and reading; it's good to have other voices to keep everything in check. :) Thanks for slugging it out to keep reading.
Now to respond...
Why would you want to get up at 4 am if you are groggy?
Perhaps if we look at it from another viewpoint... Why would I want to not eat when hungry? Why would I want to not eat sugar or consume caffeine when my body says it needs it? Why do I not defecate when the need immediately hits me? Why don't I pursue my every sexual impulse?
My body says it needs these things because there has been an evolutionary pressure to do them. Sometimes, though, my body's needs do not coincide with my conscious, sentient goals. You seem to make the assumption that every whim my body makes is the absolute best decision to be made. Were this true, I would constantly drink coffee, eat sugary foods, sleep 75% of the time, and *ahem* pursue my sexual desires. I would get basically nothing else done.
I am not a product of my immediate bodily needs. I am more than that.
Why don't you simply sleep when sleepy and work when fresh-minded?
There are other constraints (e.g., my day job) that I am allowing to continue in my schedule because I see them as allowing me to pursue my goals currently. Without them, I believe would be more busy finding my next meal than pursuing my goals. I cannot just sleep when I desire to do so. I would easily sleep 16-18 hours a day consistently (I assure you, I have previously done it for lengths of time). This neither serves my goals nor my day job.
Even were I to only sleep 6-8 hours... "sleeping when sleepy" doesn't allow me to work a schedule based on the rest of society's monophasic sleeping.
As for references, do you mean support for "alarm interrupts NREM:REM cycle"?
I mean for claims that what polyphasic sleep is doing is detrimental. Claims of reasons for sleep. Etc. Most of the time, I have responded to the post directly with a request for more information. Yes, we both recognize that complete sleep deprivation has negatives. But what about this where stage 4 and REM sleep are encouraged while removing the other stages? Where is the research to support the detrimental effects? I personally have not found it.
Now, it's obvious you have some knowledge of sleep research, and I value your perspective, because I recognize my own potential bias. However, for me to arrive at even remotely the same conclusions as you, I need to see where you have gathered your information. Judging from the information available, I see a risk: it's largely unresearched territory. But I have accepted that risk for the benefits it provides. So far, no strong negatives have appeared to me personally, and I have seen no peer-reviewed journals to warn me off of this either.
Please don't let the negative comments of other pro-polysleepers keep you away. I just suggest that, if you wish your point to carry more weight, careful, referenced comments might hold more weight. :)
-sean
I wrote that post before seeing the second reference... I am checking it now.
-sean
Having looked at the appropriate graphs and the connected captions, as well as text leading up to it, all the graphs seem to indicate is that there is a 24 hour protein cycle that regulates our sleep-wake impulses. I don't believe it discusses if it is possible to disrupt the cycle or what the effects of disruption would be.
I will humbly admit, though, that the document was at just about the peak of my biological reading level. Could you be more specific in why you think it is scary?
Thanks!
-sean
Glad to hear that we didn't screw up your sleeping too much... And sorry the room is so awfully cold. Stupid basement rooms.
-AEW
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