I successfully (?) did polyphasic sleep for several months before quitting during the summer between graduation from highschool and college. I’ve made multiple attempts after that, all of which failed though usually for social reasons.
After the initial adjustment period I suffered no ill effects and even felt healthier, although I would attribute that to having nothing to do at 4 AM except workout and a strictly regimented eating schedule (I had to abandon meals and eat once each wake period). If I had a schedule that permitted it and friends/family/girlfriend that were supportive instead of sabotaging, I would gladly pick up the schedule again
I used Uberman with 24 minute sleep periods and a 2 minute fall asleep window. I’d sleep 6 periods in the day every 4 hours on the hour: 2 am, 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm. Staying awake was not an issue past the initial acclimation period. I’d feel just as awake at 4AM as I do during the middle of the day; though I’ve always been a night owl. My biggest struggles always came from trying to ‘cheat’ (skip a period, or push it back) and getting off schedule by being too tired and thus oversleeping the next period.
I think what allowed me to succeed was that I partitioned my day into 6 separate days consisting of 4 hours (240 minutes) instead of 1 day consisting of 24 hours.
1-26: Sleep
27-60: Do one of 3 groomings (brush teeth, shower, or shave/nails/facial) and eat 1⁄2 a meal
61-180: Perform my productive work for the ‘day’. Eg working out, work around the house, go out shopping, programming, etc.
181-240: Relax. Usually in the form of watching something, socializing, or reading. (I quickly learned Videogames would leave me too restless to sleep immediately after and would push back my sleep schedule, so they would have to go into the productive period if I wanted to partake.)
My girlfriend assisted me in waking up for those hours she was awake for, though she didn’t attempt the schedule herself. I imagine it would have been much easier if she had. Waking up at 2 and 6 AM was hard as hell; for those I wouldn’t be able to sleep in my own bed (since any alarm would wake her) so I used college alarm clock and slept near my computer. (NB: Haven’t checked that download, it’s the second google hit and looks like the one I used though.)
I was doing it back before blogging was popular, although Mr Pavlina’s blog is a very, very similar description (though he adapted much more quickly than I did). Unlike him I do still fancy going back to the schedule once I’m self employed and can convince my current girlfriend that it’s not unnatural. However, I’ve tried multiple methods (like Everyman) to make it work, but my reasons for quitting and never stably returning echo his exactly, “The rest of the world simply isn’t polyphasic.”
I successfully (?) did polyphasic sleep for several months before quitting during the summer between graduation from highschool and college. I’ve made multiple attempts after that, all of which failed though usually for social reasons.
After the initial adjustment period I suffered no ill effects and even felt healthier, although I would attribute that to having nothing to do at 4 AM except workout and a strictly regimented eating schedule (I had to abandon meals and eat once each wake period). If I had a schedule that permitted it and friends/family/girlfriend that were supportive instead of sabotaging, I would gladly pick up the schedule again
Anecdote, but hopefully useful to you.
Awesome! Which schedule did you use? How were you able to not fall asleep during the transition period? Did you do it with a friend? Did you blog it?
(Sorry if this is too many question. The potential of 37% more life makes me REALLY excited.)
I used Uberman with 24 minute sleep periods and a 2 minute fall asleep window. I’d sleep 6 periods in the day every 4 hours on the hour: 2 am, 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm. Staying awake was not an issue past the initial acclimation period. I’d feel just as awake at 4AM as I do during the middle of the day; though I’ve always been a night owl. My biggest struggles always came from trying to ‘cheat’ (skip a period, or push it back) and getting off schedule by being too tired and thus oversleeping the next period.
I think what allowed me to succeed was that I partitioned my day into 6 separate days consisting of 4 hours (240 minutes) instead of 1 day consisting of 24 hours.
1-26: Sleep
27-60: Do one of 3 groomings (brush teeth, shower, or shave/nails/facial) and eat 1⁄2 a meal
61-180: Perform my productive work for the ‘day’. Eg working out, work around the house, go out shopping, programming, etc.
181-240: Relax. Usually in the form of watching something, socializing, or reading. (I quickly learned Videogames would leave me too restless to sleep immediately after and would push back my sleep schedule, so they would have to go into the productive period if I wanted to partake.)
My girlfriend assisted me in waking up for those hours she was awake for, though she didn’t attempt the schedule herself. I imagine it would have been much easier if she had. Waking up at 2 and 6 AM was hard as hell; for those I wouldn’t be able to sleep in my own bed (since any alarm would wake her) so I used college alarm clock and slept near my computer. (NB: Haven’t checked that download, it’s the second google hit and looks like the one I used though.)
I was doing it back before blogging was popular, although Mr Pavlina’s blog is a very, very similar description (though he adapted much more quickly than I did). Unlike him I do still fancy going back to the schedule once I’m self employed and can convince my current girlfriend that it’s not unnatural. However, I’ve tried multiple methods (like Everyman) to make it work, but my reasons for quitting and never stably returning echo his exactly, “The rest of the world simply isn’t polyphasic.”