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Originally Posted by Scott Bird  Copla,
like you, I feel much more refreshed after a day/night of biphasic sleep than I did after monophasic sleep. I initially put this through a 30 day trial ( summary) out of curiosity, but one of the main reasons for keeping the routine was the improved sleep quality.
I arrived at the 1.5/4.5 hour split after a bit of trial and error : 1.5/3 wasn't quite enough, and neither was alternating between 1.5/3 and 1.5/4.5 . In the end I decided to stick with the 1.5/4.5 split.
The fact that there is only a small (1.5 hours per day) saving for me to do this (from 7.5 hours per night when I was monophasic) is enhanced by the fact that I'm now more refreshed after sleep, and my productivity has increased accordingly. I'm now faced with the wonderful situation of not only being able to get more things done, but of having more time in which to do them. Superb.
I don't find the nap a hassle to employ, any more than watching your favourite TV show at a given time. It's just a part of my routine. In fact, it'd seem odd if I didn't take a nap.
The sleep cycles do gradually shorten, though not all that much. Glen Rhodes found that his had shortened to around 75 minutes at some point in the first couple of years; mine have shortened to 75-80 minutes after a little over two months. You can tell by the time you'll naturally wake up - perhaps after a couple of weeks you'll begin waking up a couple of minutes before the alarm goes off (still set it though, just in case). This 'automatic waking' will gradually occur earlier and earlier; at least on some nights.
As for grogginess - yes, just trying different things is the answer. Try adjusting the start time of the nap, the gap between the nap and core sleep, the length of the core sleep, switching the gap and core sleep (3 hours in the evening, followed by 90 minutes in the early morning), and breaking up the nap into smaller chunks. Experiment, enjoy and be sure to post your findings (don't forget the polyphasic sleep logs thread). |
Ah, no idea why I didn't think of that, I can completely see how the improved quality of sleep would make it worthwhile on its own. Glad to hear that the gradual earlier cycles will occur on their own and I won't have to randomly fiddle with my sleep times too much
It really is fascinating how having a regular nap feels like you have a second day... one waking it feels like a 6 1/2 hour mini-day, and the shortness of it encourages the utilization of every single minute, even moreso than the rest of the day.
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Originally Posted by Ati Yes, this is exactly my experience as well. Increased energy, better sleep and more productivity with 6 hrs/24 in a 4.5/1.5 split. I am amazed at the improved energy. I've always been considered "high energy", I guess because I do a lot of stuff, but I have been fighting fatigue of one sort or another for years until getting into this. After less than a month the difference is incredible.
Also, this improved sleep efficiency (meaning energy and feeling rested / hours slept) is with a comparison between 71/2 to 8 hrs (then) and 6hrs (now) per 24. Before splitting the sleep cycles, if I had to or tried to go on 6 hrs a night, I'd feel sleep deprived in just a few days. So the efficiency, for me seems more important than the actual hours.
All best, and welcome, copla!
Ati |
Thanks for the welcome Ati, and it's great to hear you're seeing such great results as well! It's hard to see why more people don't try out biphasic sleep, it doesn't seem to have much of any downside thus far, though I guess as months progress some might arise... hopefully not though. Now that you mention it in terms of sleep efficiency, I couldn't agree more... even on as little sleep as I'm getting I feel well-rested all the time, aside from the bit of time immediately prior to the nap. Out of curiosity, did you try a 3/1.5 split before going to a 4.5/1.5 split? I'm wondering if I'm just lucking out that my body can handle the 3/1.5, or if it'll just hit me like a brick after a few more weeks.
As a sidenote, I have to say, this forum is amazing- it's such an incredible opportunity to be able to discuss things like biphasic sleep on a forum dedicated to personal development, with topics abounding about everything from life philosophy to finances to lucid dreaming. Just mind-boggling to think of all the events that had to transpire to bring about this, from the technology underpinning the internet, to all the events in Steve's life that lead him to his path of personal development, and eventually founding this forum, and then in the lives of all us to lead us here.