Polyphasic Sleep

...I was opposed to the idea of this because I felt I had nothing to do at night, but now I can attribute that to the fact that when I feel tired, I don’t feel like doing anything. I figure once I adjust and stop feeling tired, I will find many things to do at night.

Besides, I’d like to be fully adjusted by the time classes start in 2 weeks.

Its difficult – every time I wake up after my core sleep at night, i instinctively turn the alarm off and sleep normally. I am too tired to remember what I am trying to achieve.

Last night I slept from 2-8a instead of 2-6:30, but not as bad as before. I always regret not going through with it in the morning. If only I could remember that feeling when I’m supposed to get up.

I’m having second thoughts about this. Perhaps I don’t need more time, I just need to manage it better – not spend so much wasted time on the internet/watching shows. It sure seems a lot better than the sleep deprivation at this point.

I’ve been sleeping in the last two days. Not good.

Today I have taken precautions about that. I will sleep only my core sleep of 3 hours tonight, and I have set up things to keep me awake during the hardest time right after waking. Hopefully this will set me on track.

I have left myself little notes of self-discipline and laid out interesting things to do (I set up my paints, my laundry, ingredients to make the bread I’ve been planning, have TF2 ready to play, etc). These safeguards had better work…but I think they will, because I’ve put so much effort into them.

Failed to get up this morning. Again.

I’m not very motivated about polyphasic sleeping when I’ve just been woken up…sleep deprivation is to me worse than extreme hunger or thirst. I don’t know what I should do. But I’m not going to stop trying.

Tonight I’m going to try to have a plan for when I wake up. Put my alarm very loud and across the room, take a shower right after…anything to not get back into bed. After the first hour after getting up, I should be alright. Its just that hour…

Continue taking naps, and shave off an hour and a half of sleep every night. Tonight, 6 hours, tomorrow 4.5, the next day three. Hopefully this will make it easier to get up, and the naps will start feeling more signifigant before I put all of my sleep debt into them.

When I woke up at 5, I couldn’t get up. My body’s need for sleep overcame the desire to become polyphasic, and I slept in till 9.

:/ I will try again tonight. Maybe ease into it with more and longer naps during the day so I won’t have to have such a horrible deficit when I wake up in the early morning.

Now that its winter break, I can finally start. I’ve been anxious to do so, but I didn’t want the zombie adaptation period to conflict with my studies.

I’m doing a version of everyman, with a core 1.5 hours from 1-4am and 20 minute naps at 9a, 2p and 9p. No easing into it, just crash’n’burn. I slept 4 hours this morning, had a 1.5 hour nap in the late morning and I’m going to take another nap in about 20 minutes.

The adjustment period I suspect will be tough. But its break…I was going to be a zombie for a little while anyway. I’m going to make a list of things to do when I’m bored, or braindead, or both.

BORED & still retaining brain function:

1. read/study for next quarter’s classes
1.5. read/study my individual intellectual pursuits
2. do some math/phys problems
3. exercise
4. cook
5. paint
6. do some circuitry
7. work on ProjectEuler
8. work on lock picking
9. add more later

BORED & BRAINDEAD:

1. watch movies/anime/tv
2. draw while listening to music
3. exercise
4. meditate/do nothing
5. video games (HL2, TF2)
6. stumble
7. cook
8. recreational reading

• my main goal is to just get through the braindead zombie stage. I know I will be bored and braindead sometimes after I’m all settled, but I’m just trying to prepare myself now so I won’t lapse into unconsciousness when I have nothing to do and ruin my plans.

Unfortunately, Reading tends to put me to sleep. :/

more time is the reason.. ofcouse :D

When I try this, I’m going to go full out. So step 1 for me is to set up my environment and myself in such a way that I have a greater chance of succeeding. First goal is to train my body to get up as soon as the alarm clock rings.

If you want to get a ton of stuff done (either work or play) and need more time to do it, this is definitely worth it. I’ve been averaging a bit over 5.5 hrs of sleep a day for the past 11 weeks an I haven’t even been very strict. If you need help or have any questions feel free to contact me. Also, you can find general tips and a log of my polyphasic experiences on my blog at www.ohgodthechicken.com.

Happy napping!