I probably shouldn't have titled this post "The End", because I am not completely ending my sleep cycle, I am merely adjusting it. However, this will be my last blog post. The blog has been helpful to me so far, but I no longer need it.
I am changing my cycle to have a 6-hour core sleep at night, and I will keep up my naps.
The reason for this change is that I am bored; I am really bored all the time. This cycle was nice when I was overwhelmed with work and had no time to do it. However, the semester is winding down and I am presented with more free time than I can deal with. It is actually an inconvenience to be bored, and so I am allocating 1.5 more hours to sleep, so I can be less bored during the day. Also, I have the added benefit of having class two hours after awaking. I can now do something active, eat breakfast, relax, and then go to class. My mornings have been unproductive so far, so this will cut out some of the dead time.
I will still take scheduled naps, though. The naps have been really nice, and are the equivalent of a cup of coffee in the middle of my day. But with more sleep during the night, I can be more flexible; if I miss a nap here or there, it's alright. The main key to my new schedule is a fixed sleep schedule. Having a constant bedtime and waking-up time will add stability to my days and give me a dependable amount of rest. I still will not sleep in during weekends, and I will have all the energy I need.
In conclusion of my 3-week experience on polyphasic sleeping: it is possible, if you have things that need to be done. The Everyman is a cycle that I would recommend to anyone. It gave me extra hours in my day to do whatever I want, and I thoroughly enjoyed the free time. However- it is only worth it if you have things to do to occupy your time. Being locked out of your room with a sleeping roommate is not ideal. Tip-toeing around the house is not ideal. You should be spending all your waking hours in full light, doing tasks at normal noise levels. Otherwise, you will put yourself to sleep.
This schedule also takes extraordinary willpower and a strict schedule. It is convenient to have the extra time for yourself, but comes at the expense of others. You have to schedule everything around your naps, because if you miss them or don't sleep well during them- you will feel it. So if you have a busy schedule and need a couple of hours to relax- go for it. Otherwise, your free time is better spent enjoying some sleep.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Day 22
Day 22 - Thursday
I started off on a bad foot today. I'm still on readjustment from messing up my sleep cycle over break. So today was just about the climax, the crucial most tired day before my body is forced to adjust. Days will be easier now, as today was the hump that I had to get over.
The morning was tiring. I went for a hike, came back, ate breakfast, and had nothing to do but sit and watch tv/browse the internet. Bad idea- an hour of sitting down in one place bored made me extremely tired. If I want to keep up this schedule without torturing myself with tiredness in the morning, I need something better to occupy my time with. Maybe if college classes started at a regular time like normal workplaces do...
Afternoon and evening were fantastic. I was a little sluggish at times, but it wasn't too bad. A busy evening kept me awake until bedtime.
I started off on a bad foot today. I'm still on readjustment from messing up my sleep cycle over break. So today was just about the climax, the crucial most tired day before my body is forced to adjust. Days will be easier now, as today was the hump that I had to get over.
The morning was tiring. I went for a hike, came back, ate breakfast, and had nothing to do but sit and watch tv/browse the internet. Bad idea- an hour of sitting down in one place bored made me extremely tired. If I want to keep up this schedule without torturing myself with tiredness in the morning, I need something better to occupy my time with. Maybe if college classes started at a regular time like normal workplaces do...
Afternoon and evening were fantastic. I was a little sluggish at times, but it wasn't too bad. A busy evening kept me awake until bedtime.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Day 21
Day 21 - Wednesday
A regular polyphasic day. Naps and bedtime were on schedule, and I had a high energy level throughout the day!
Naps have been getting better: I fall asleep fast now, but getting up is a bit of a struggle. My body is not used to the 20-minute interval for the naps anymore.
I also am waking up in the middle of the nap, after a dream. Hopefully the naps will even out to a solid 20-minute sleep period with waking up feeling completely natural.
Overall- good energy today!
A regular polyphasic day. Naps and bedtime were on schedule, and I had a high energy level throughout the day!
Naps have been getting better: I fall asleep fast now, but getting up is a bit of a struggle. My body is not used to the 20-minute interval for the naps anymore.
I also am waking up in the middle of the nap, after a dream. Hopefully the naps will even out to a solid 20-minute sleep period with waking up feeling completely natural.
Overall- good energy today!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Day 20
Day 20 - Tuesday
Today was alright, except for my naps.
My energy level in the morning was great, and that carried through into the afternoon. However, I did not get tired as I should have near my naps. By the time that I hit the pillow, I had a hard time falling asleep. With only 20 minutes to nap, that lost time was precious. Falling asleep NOT within 1-2 minutes meant not going into REM sleep, and I really didn't gain much from those naps.
As a result, my evening was interesting. I went to the gym around 8, and had a solid hour of good exercise, including running and sprinting on my healing sprained ankle. This all felt really good, and I was full of energy at the gym. When I got back, I had my recovery drink, and sat listening to music for twenty minutes. After that, I was insanely tired. Fatigue washed over me, not only the sluggishness I usually feel following a workout, but I was tired as well. This phenomenon carried through from 10-12:30, accompanied by a pounding headache.
Late at night, I slaved away at the piece of music I was creating for class, and two advils warded off the pounding in my head. After I really got my creative juices flowing and began working hard, my tiredness abated. By 2:00, I was on a roll making music (fully awake), and even the dark room (roommate was asleep) didn't affect my energy level. Very interesting phenomenon with the inactivity and extreme fatigue. Of course, once hitting the pillow, I fell asleep fairly quickly this time. I deserved my 4.5 hours of rest.
Today was alright, except for my naps.
My energy level in the morning was great, and that carried through into the afternoon. However, I did not get tired as I should have near my naps. By the time that I hit the pillow, I had a hard time falling asleep. With only 20 minutes to nap, that lost time was precious. Falling asleep NOT within 1-2 minutes meant not going into REM sleep, and I really didn't gain much from those naps.
As a result, my evening was interesting. I went to the gym around 8, and had a solid hour of good exercise, including running and sprinting on my healing sprained ankle. This all felt really good, and I was full of energy at the gym. When I got back, I had my recovery drink, and sat listening to music for twenty minutes. After that, I was insanely tired. Fatigue washed over me, not only the sluggishness I usually feel following a workout, but I was tired as well. This phenomenon carried through from 10-12:30, accompanied by a pounding headache.
Late at night, I slaved away at the piece of music I was creating for class, and two advils warded off the pounding in my head. After I really got my creative juices flowing and began working hard, my tiredness abated. By 2:00, I was on a roll making music (fully awake), and even the dark room (roommate was asleep) didn't affect my energy level. Very interesting phenomenon with the inactivity and extreme fatigue. Of course, once hitting the pillow, I fell asleep fairly quickly this time. I deserved my 4.5 hours of rest.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Day 19
Day 19 - Monday
Back on track! Woke up at 6:30 and had an extremely productive morning. I realize that a polyphasic sleep cycle only really works well when you have a structured day. Structured sleep works with structured schedules, especially when it comes to napping precisely at the target time, and preparing my body to nap. Instead of interrupting an activity to nap, I now have at least ten minutes leading up to it, where I can relax myself so falling asleep is very easy.
Naps and bedtime were all on schedule. I was a little tired at boring segments of the day, but that's nothing new- I used to feel that while on a normal sleeping pattern.
Mornings are difficult again, but as long as I fight the tiredness (showering, eating, working out immediately after waking up) I am fine. If I don't allow myself time to get tired (sitting and reading after waking up), then I start my day off awake and stay that way.
It's nice to be back on this schedule. I love the time I have to do things.
Back on track! Woke up at 6:30 and had an extremely productive morning. I realize that a polyphasic sleep cycle only really works well when you have a structured day. Structured sleep works with structured schedules, especially when it comes to napping precisely at the target time, and preparing my body to nap. Instead of interrupting an activity to nap, I now have at least ten minutes leading up to it, where I can relax myself so falling asleep is very easy.
Naps and bedtime were all on schedule. I was a little tired at boring segments of the day, but that's nothing new- I used to feel that while on a normal sleeping pattern.
Mornings are difficult again, but as long as I fight the tiredness (showering, eating, working out immediately after waking up) I am fine. If I don't allow myself time to get tired (sitting and reading after waking up), then I start my day off awake and stay that way.
It's nice to be back on this schedule. I love the time I have to do things.
Days 15 - 18
Days 15 - 18, Thursday - Sunday
I lumped these days together because there was nothing positive to say about them. As I approached the end of break, I became much more lazy with keeping up the schedule. This was partly due to a lack of formal schedule at home, and also because I was using a watch as an alarm clock. Either way- I was oversleeping way too much.
Sunday I was back at college, and I started a strict adherence to the schedule again. My twenty minute naps are starting to feel insufficient, probably since I have been having a trouble falling asleep during them. A few days strictly adhering to the Everyman should fix that.
There should be a rough couple of days where I force my body back on the schedule, but it most likely will be fine.
I lumped these days together because there was nothing positive to say about them. As I approached the end of break, I became much more lazy with keeping up the schedule. This was partly due to a lack of formal schedule at home, and also because I was using a watch as an alarm clock. Either way- I was oversleeping way too much.
Sunday I was back at college, and I started a strict adherence to the schedule again. My twenty minute naps are starting to feel insufficient, probably since I have been having a trouble falling asleep during them. A few days strictly adhering to the Everyman should fix that.
There should be a rough couple of days where I force my body back on the schedule, but it most likely will be fine.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Day 14
Day 14 - Wednesday
Recovery Day. Today was a bit tired as well, but not any worse as yesterday (Tuesday). I stuck to my schedule today. It is harder not being in my dorm, since my alarms are a bit different in the morning; it is too easy to snooze or to reach over and silence my alarm while going back to sleep.
However, I have developed good techniques of keeping myself awake once I am getting sleepy during the day. I just have to divert my attention, constantly switching focuses and not allowing my mind to settle. This gives me something to think about. And it wakes me up.
I was good today. I followed my schedule exactly, and it felt better than yesterday (oversleeping in naps makes me feel even worse). I was a little groggy around my naps, tired a bit before and after. This is expected, since today is a recovery day. I expect to need a few days to ease my body back on this insane sleeping schedule. I will also be more punctual about my naps.
If I'm going to do this- I have to do it good, and I have to do it right.
Recovery Day. Today was a bit tired as well, but not any worse as yesterday (Tuesday). I stuck to my schedule today. It is harder not being in my dorm, since my alarms are a bit different in the morning; it is too easy to snooze or to reach over and silence my alarm while going back to sleep.
However, I have developed good techniques of keeping myself awake once I am getting sleepy during the day. I just have to divert my attention, constantly switching focuses and not allowing my mind to settle. This gives me something to think about. And it wakes me up.
I was good today. I followed my schedule exactly, and it felt better than yesterday (oversleeping in naps makes me feel even worse). I was a little groggy around my naps, tired a bit before and after. This is expected, since today is a recovery day. I expect to need a few days to ease my body back on this insane sleeping schedule. I will also be more punctual about my naps.
If I'm going to do this- I have to do it good, and I have to do it right.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)