3 ms·

I've tried Monophasic sleep, Polyphasic sleep, the uberman cycle, the every-man cycle, and just about every other sleep cycle. I find that the best pattern that

by akg 15y ago

I've tried Monophasic sleep, Polyphasic sleep, the uberman cycle, the every-man cycle, and just about every other sleep cycle. I find that the best pattern that works for me is bi-phasic sleeping. I think we are naturally biphasic sleepers. The best change I made to my sleeping patterns is getting rid of an alarm clock. Get as much sleep as you need and then just wake up. If you get tired, take a nap. The body induces sleep based on your physical and mental activity patterns. I find it best to listen to my body when I need rest and when I have had enough rest. Of course, this pattern doesn't work if you have a strict work schedule or have meetings in the morning that cannot be moved, but if you have flexibility over your schedule I recommend you this a try. I also heard of a great book on the topic: http://www.amazon.com/Take-Nap-Change-Your-Life/dp/0761142908/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326899929&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Take-Nap-Change-Your-Life/dp/076114290...

T-hawk 15y ago
> The best change I made to my sleeping patterns is getting rid of an alarm clock. Get as much sleep as you need and then just wake up. I highly second that sentiment. I haven't used an alarm clock for workdays for years. (I will for exceptions like an early flight or doctor appointment or something.) About once a week, I won't wake up until 45 to 60 minutes past the usual time. If that happens, it was necessary, and a blaring alarm clock would have left me zombied for most of the day. I do have a fairly flexible work schedule, arriving any time up to about 10:30 is okay, and my manager does the same. This is by design not luck, I wouldn't take a job where that was not true. Biphasic sleeping seems to be my most natural schedule too, on weekends and the last time I was between jobs. Problem is that I end up taking a 3-4 hour nap in addition to the usual 7-8 hours at night, which really cuts down on available conscious hours. I'm undecided whether that's my most productive schedule, or whether it's best to avoid the urge to nap.
- nooneelse 15y ago
  I don't find the alarm clock alone bad, but using the snooze button is for me. Even one of those broken up, disjoint snatches of shallow sleep seems to take away the restfulness of the previous hours of deep sleep I got. I.e. it was the snooze button making me feel zombied; ymmv and all.
jrockway 15y ago
I agree with you. The problem is staying on a 24-hour cycle with biphasic sleep; I simply cannot do it. 4 hours of sleep gets me about 12 hours of productivity before I am tired again. This puts me on a 32 hour cycle, which is largely incompatible with real life.

by akg 15y ago

T-hawk 15y ago

> The best change I made to my sleeping patterns is getting rid of an alarm clock. Get as much sleep as you need and then just wake up. I highly second that sentiment. I haven't used an alarm clock for workdays for years. (I will for exceptions like an early flight or doctor appointment or something.) About once a week, I won't wake up until 45 to 60 minutes past the usual time. If that happens, it was necessary, and a blaring alarm clock would have left me zombied for most of the day. I do have a fairly flexible work schedule, arriving any time up to about 10:30 is okay, and my manager does the same. This is by design not luck, I wouldn't take a job where that was not true. Biphasic sleeping seems to be my most natural schedule too, on weekends and the last time I was between jobs. Problem is that I end up taking a 3-4 hour nap in addition to the usual 7-8 hours at night, which really cuts down on available conscious hours. I'm undecided whether that's my most productive schedule, or whether it's best to avoid the urge to nap.

nooneelse 15y ago
I don't find the alarm clock alone bad, but using the snooze button is for me. Even one of those broken up, disjoint snatches of shallow sleep seems to take away the restfulness of the previous hours of deep sleep I got. I.e. it was the snooze button making me feel zombied; ymmv and all.

jrockway 15y ago

I agree with you. The problem is staying on a 24-hour cycle with biphasic sleep; I simply cannot do it. 4 hours of sleep gets me about 12 hours of productivity before I am tired again. This puts me on a 32 hour cycle, which is largely incompatible with real life.