embral
Category: Polyphasic Sleep Cycle
0 Day two of polyphasic sleep cycle; The end of an error
I miss REM sleep and have been trolled by a ubiquitous pseudo science meme
It’s 5 AM. I’ve been up since 3:30 AM. It has taken me 90 minutes to get it together enough to focus on doing anything other then surf articles on sleep studies. Everything I’m finding that has something positive to say about polyphasic sleep is anecdotal. Everything empirical warns of the dangers of polyphasic sleep, sleep deprivation and addresses the benefits of REM sleep. I like dreaming. Not only do I enjoy dreaming, as a Jungian, dreams have played an important role in my personal growth, inner work and general health of my psyche. Then there’s the part about studies showing the importance REM sleep plays in neurological health.
Yes, I knew all this before I started this sleep cycle. At the moment I’m grumpy and have the worst jet lag I’ve ever experienced without the reward of reaching a pleasant destination. AND I judge I’ve been trolled by a ubiquitous pseudo science meme.
WTF is the point of gaining 3 hours a day if it takes me 2 hours to become 50% functional? Hell, it’s taking me twice as long as normal to put together a simple blog post.
I’m having serious second thoughts about this polyphasic sleep cycle.
Oh, did I mention I’m grumpy?
6 AM: I fell asleep in my chair while working in MAX.
7:10 AM: First nap of the day. Went to sleep almost immediately. Got up in 20 minutes when the alarm went off and feel like shit. The rest of the morning has been terrible. I fell asleep during meditation. My eyes are burning and I have lost all ability to focus.
11:10: Second nap same as the first. I’m physically weak, fortunately today is not a weight lifting day. I’m dreading doing cardio. So at this point I’ve lost 4 important facets of my daily life. 1. Concentration and focus. 2. Quality meditation. 3. Joy in physical activity. 4. Peace of mind/happiness.
Did I mention I’m grumpy? Not a little grumpy. But a total asshole kind of grumpy.
05:10 PM: Third nap same as the first. Just FUGLY. Fell asleep working in Finale.
09:00 PM: I’m done. The experiment is officially over. Good night.
Did I mention I’ve been trolled by a ubiquitous pseudo science meme?
More on what I learned tomorrow.
0 Day one of polyphasic sleep cycle
Day one of Everyperson (aka Puredoxyk or Everyman) polyphasic sleep cycle
Some folks have said they are interested in how my experience of the Everyperson cycle turns out. I’m posting my daily journal entries on the experience. Meeps is thrilled to have me awake for an additional three hours everyday.
Why am I changing my sleep cycle?
The motivation for trying the Everyperson polyphasic sleep is to reduce the pain I experience in the mornings from degenerative disc disease (DDD), get higher quality sleep in spite of my delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) and gain three hours a day of awake time.
The longer I sleep the more DDD pain I experience when I wake up. This sleep schedule seems like a viable solution.
Assuming it doesn’t make me crazier 😜
Anecdotes I’ve read have shown people with DSPS often experience higher quality and more consistent sleep using this cycle.
Day One
OK, made it through the first day. Overall I’ve been alert, focused and productive all day. I have noticed some changes in my vision. I need my glasses more frequently. All day long my vision was the way it typically is at the end of the day when I’m tired. No changes in my eating, exercise or medication except for lowering my caffeine intake. Typically I drink a 12oz cup of coffee in the morning. Today I did not drink any coffee. I did have a some Dr. Pepper during the day.
I went to sleep at midnight and woke up at 3:30 AM. I’m a little tired but not particularly uncomfortable. I do have a bit of the “burning” sensation in my eyes that comes with lack of sleep. Most importantly I have no back pain.
I’ll take my first of three, twenty minute naps today at 7:10 AM.
Ugh, I made a timing mistake and got back from the gym an hour late so the first nap was at 8:10. I woke up feeling like absolute shit because I overslept a bit and went into a second REM cycle. Felt fine after 15 minutes.
Second nap at 12:10. No problem other then being groggy for the first few minutes after getting up.
Third nap at 5:10. Same experience as the previous nap.
Charles Shriner 
