Author Topic: Alternate sleep schedule?  (Read 2509 times)

Offline Zhon

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Alternate sleep schedule?
« on: December 05, 2011, 06:27:10 PM »
I discovered this by accident, and it actually seems pretty fascinating.  It's called the Uberman's sleep schedule.

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/4/15/103358/720

What it is, is a sleep schedule that totals about three hours of sleep per day, and yet can theoretically give you a more rested feel than the normal 8-9 hours.  The idea is to take a 20-30 minute nap every four hours instead of the normal sleep time, and it basically forces your brain to adjust to getting as much REM sleep as possible in these short times to compensate.  This schedule - according to the article's writer - takes roughly ten days to fully adjust, and during that time the person practicing it will be little more than a zombie due to lack of REM, but after this time a number of changes occur - some beneficial, and a couple potentially strong drawbacks.  I've also looked around at some of the comments where this schedule pops up, such as Cracked.com, and a number of people are saying this method is also very dangerous since it deprives the body of the other sleep stages.

Just thought I'd share it and see if anyone else has heard about it.  Any thoughts?

Offline Alex Lou

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Re: Alternate sleep schedule?
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2011, 07:38:50 PM »
Judging from studies on shift work and health/lifespan, I can only think that this schedule will shorten your life if practiced long-term.  I'm pretty sure it would be worth it though, since you'd get that time back during the time that you're not sleeping.

There are a few other threads around here about different sleep cycles.  I've never tried this schedule, but it's often discussed.  Don't think many people are ever successful with it because it interferes with most work and school schedules. 

The rest of us try Everyman, which is 4 naps in 24 hours (a nap every 6 hours).  I haven't had any success with it so far.

Are you going to try it?  :)

Offline Zhon

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Re: Alternate sleep schedule?
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2011, 08:29:42 PM »
Unfortunately I don't have the time to spare to try this, even for a short while.  I'm a college student, there isn't enough space in my schedule to take naps in the middle of the day.  :banghead:

It just sounded like a neat idea and I wanted to see what people thought about it, is all.  Never heard of the Everyman schedule, but it sound like it works the same way as the Uberman.  Thanks for the heads-up, I'll look it up sometime.

Offline Sunshine

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Re: Alternate sleep schedule?
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2011, 09:24:39 PM »
(content removed by user request)
« Last Edit: February 10, 2014, 07:04:01 PM by pj »

Offline iadr

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Re: Alternate sleep schedule?
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2011, 09:57:11 PM »
I discovered this by accident, and it actually seems pretty fascinating.  It's called the Uberman's sleep schedule.
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/4/15/103358/720
What it is, is a sleep schedule that totals about three hours of sleep per day, and yet can theoretically give you a more rested feel than the normal 8-9 hours.  The idea is to take a 20-30 minute nap every four hours instead of the normal sleep time, and it basically forces your brain to adjust to getting as much REM sleep as possible in these short times to compensate.  
This sounds like it would be a great idea for someone in college as it would allow them to get by on less sleep each night, which would allow more time to study. Instead of killing ones self though by restricting ones sleep to only 20 or 30 minutes at a time, why not just try taking 4 naps of about 90 minutes each which would provide for 6 hours of sleep and would probably rest a person up much more than 8 or 9 hours of sleep during the night. The 4 naps would not necessarily need to be taken at regular 6 hour intervals either, as one could be taken in the afternoon after classes, another one later in the evening, another one in the middle of the night, and another one right before heading off for class so the person would be rested for their class.
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Offline majic

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Re: Alternate sleep schedule?
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2011, 02:41:56 AM »
I suspect that it would work IF each sleep is not interupted and you dont miss one. You will close to sleep deprived so would need to manage very carefully.
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Offline Zhon

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Re: Alternate sleep schedule?
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2011, 03:26:59 PM »
I suspect that it would work IF each sleep is not interupted and you dont miss one. You will close to sleep deprived so would need to manage very carefully.

Yeah, that's one of the downsides he mentioned in the link above:

Quote
One drawback is that I hit a wall if I stay up for more than about five hours without a twenty to thirty minute nap. My concentration and energy seem to vanish in a matter of minutes and I absolutely have to go take a nap. This can create some problems in social situations, but one can somewhat shuffle the naps around to adjust for this.

Offline majic

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Re: Alternate sleep schedule?
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2011, 02:55:28 AM »
be aware that if you are sleep deprived and you need to sleep you will fall over and go to sleep. This could easily happen while driving or in some simlar situation so good mission you are on but sleep in the final moments is not in our control.
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Offline Alex Lou

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Re: Alternate sleep schedule?
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2011, 01:42:13 PM »
I have some skepticism about the uberman schedule because I can't fall asleep quickly enough for a 20 min nap to make sense unless I'm sleep deprived.  So for me to do this schedule, I would have to be chronically sleep deprived... which I think would be the result of this schedule anyway.

But people who swear by this schedule say that they're not sleep deprived.  So I question that.  I have no way of knowing of course.  But it is not uncommon to feel really good while sleep deprived, so how they feel isn't any evidence that they aren't.

Offline iadr

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Re: Alternate sleep schedule?
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2011, 07:13:21 PM »
This sounds like it would be a great idea for someone in college as it would allow them to get by on less sleep each night, which would allow more time to study. Instead of killing ones self though by restricting ones sleep to only 20 or 30 minutes at a time, why not just try taking 4 naps of about 90 minutes each which would provide for 6 hours of sleep and would probably rest a person up much more than 8 or 9 hours of sleep during the night. The 4 naps would not necessarily need to be taken at regular 6 hour intervals either, as one could be taken in the afternoon after classes, another one later in the evening, another one in the middle of the night, and another one right before heading off for class so the person would be rested for their class.
An even better idea might be to just take four 120 minute naps for a total of 8 hours rest. That way a person would not be sleep deprived at all, would be sleeping long enough each time to enter a rem cycle and have some dreams or lucids, and would probably feel much more rested than if they had slept for 8 hours straight, as naps seem to rest a person more. Although this would defeat the entire purpose of being sleep deprived and allowing a person to get by on only 3 hours of sleep a night, it would be a whole lot safer and better for a person's health than trying to get by on only 3 hours of sleep.
Beg and Bas: HA GG TR LM CL SO LC RS FL LW TD
Int: EF BI JR DC WH CT CW IA WA TA WT JT RA WW WF RA MF WF BO TK
Advanced: TT AN OB CS BH ST
Sea:
All tasks completed. Going through a second time.