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Old 12-16-2006, 05:16 AM   #1 (permalink)
Scott
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
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Default Polyphasic sleep survey

Hello, everyone!

I'm creating a detailed write-up about polyphasic sleep for my website, and I was wondering if any of you who have attempted it (regardless of whether you succeeded) would be willing to fill out a quick survey.

Much of the information that's available comes from blogs, and unless you can get your hands on Claudio Stampi's Why We Nap (the only real scientific studies that I'm aware of on this topic), you'll have a hard time drawing many conclusions.

I want to get some data in aggregate form and present just how feasible (or infeasible) this schedule is, and what it takes to adapt to it.

Your time is very much appreciated! I'll post a link once I get the write-up online.




FYI: I define "successful" as having gone 2-3 weeks without a single oversleep. You don't have to be completely out of the adaptation phase, but you should be able to bet a good amount of money that you'll be able to wake up after your next nap. Also, please fill out the first survey if you are no longer on the schedule, but were on it at one time.

EDIT: I received a question about whether to include biphasic sleep - The answer is yes. Anything that consists of more than two blocks of sleep per 24 hours (barring a normal schedule + short afternoon nap) is fair game. Because of the first question, I'll be able to distinguish between the different schedules anyway.

For successful adapters:
1. How many naps per day do you take, and how long are they?
1a. Please specify each if your naps are not of equal length.
2. What times are each of your naps?
3. During the adaptation, approximately how many days did it take until you were able to function at least as well as you did pre-adaptation?
4. About how many times did you oversleep during your adaptation?
5. Was there any sort of pattern or average duration of oversleeping? If so, how long?
6. About how far from a given "naptime" can you shift a nap (earlier or later) and still function well?
7. On a scale of 1 to 9 (9 being the best), let's say each of the following measures were a 5 before you became polyphasic. Please rate how (compared to a 5) you perform now in these areas:
-Alertness
-Concentration
-Creativity
-Physical endurance (e.g. running)
-Physical strength
-Ability to fight illness
-Ability to heal after injury
-Happiness
-Mental quickness
8. Please state approximately how many servings of each food group you consume per day:
-Grains
-Veggies
-Fruits
-Dairy
-Meats
-Cups/Liters of water
8a. Was the above any different while you were adapting? If so, please specify how.
8b. Did you find it necessary to change your diet before you could feasibly do this schedule? If so, please specify what your diet was before.
9. About how many hours per week do you exercise?
9a. About how many hours per week did you exercise during the adaptation?
9b. What about pre-adaptation?
10. In your opinion, what was the main factor which caused you to succeed?
11. If you were on the schedule at one time but aren't anymore, what caused you to drop it?

For failed attempts:
1. How many naps did you take per day, and how long were they?
1a. Please specify each if your naps were not of equal length.
2. What times were your naps?
3. How long did you try to adapt to the schedule before you gave up?
4. About how many times did you oversleep during your adaptation?
5. Was there any sort of pattern or average duration of oversleeping? If so, how long?
6. On a scale of 1 to 9 (9 being the best), rate how well you stuck to your schedule.
7. Please state approximately how many servings of each food group you consumed per day during the adaptation period:
-Grains
-Veggies
-Fruits
-Dairy
-Meats
-Cups/Liters of water
8. About how many hours per week did you exercise during the adaptation?
9. In your opinion, what was the main factor which caused you to fail?
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