Polyphasic sleep?

[kwkingdom123]

So I just read through all the info on this link :Polyphasic sleep does work!!
and yossarian said research showed that polyphasic sleep impaired long term memory. Is it possible to increase the nap time and sleep only a few hours more in order to stop that from happening? Oh, and does polyphasic sleep really work?

[faithsdaddy]

There are several schedules, but the common ones are 6 times 20 naps, 3 hours sleep with 3 X 20 minute naps and 4.5 hour sleep with 2 X 20 minute naps.

Longer naps will be counter- productive. The longer sleep will not make you more rested, unless you took a 1.5 hour sleep- but that's biphasic sleep and not quite the same thing.

I don't know about the memory loss thing- where does it come from? Actually, scratch that. Doesn't matter. I did a lot of research before being Polyphasic and what I noticed is that there isn't a lot of 'formal' information out there. If you want to tinker with your sleep patterns, you'll have to take responsibility for yourself. I wouldn't trust any scientific advice, because there isn't enough of it, and almost all that there is, is biased against doing it.

My empirically derived advice is that it will not affect anything negatively. It's hard doing it, but I felt mentally clearer and better rested- which was pretty much what I'd been led to believe from what I had read.

[The Rock]

There's no scientific proof that polyphasic sleep impairs long-term memory. The Super Memo article is flawed as it uses studies on "normal" monophasic sleep to come to that conclusion. It is true that if you're a monophosic sleeper - what 99% of the population is - and you reduce your sleep by a large margin, it will effect your long-term memory.

But that's only for monophasic sleep. Fact is there hasn't been a single comprehensive scientific study done on polyphasic sleep so no one really knows the long-term effects.

[goldberg]

Originally Posted by kwkingdom123

So I just read through all the info on this link :Polyphasic sleep does work!!
and yossarian said research showed that polyphasic sleep impaired long term memory. Is it possible to increase the nap time and sleep only a few hours more in order to stop that from happening? Oh, and does polyphasic sleep really work?

From all my reading of polyphasic sleep, it seems that few people actually manage to stick to the routine. You need to be able to accomodate the sleep pattern and that can be tough, if you have a 9-5 job or kids forget about it. If you miss a nap then you end up crashing.

I think people have had more success with biphasic sleep, but for me it just did not work. What I am trying at the moment is just reducing my sleep amounts from 8 to 7 hours and so far it has gone pretty well, though I do feel tired, I don't feel impaired and the extra hour is golden.

[sidefx]

What is the benefit of Polyphasic sleep? Isn't it more efficient to just get all your sleeping done at once?

[faithsdaddy]

Originally Posted by sidefx

What is the benefit of Polyphasic sleep? Isn't it more efficient to just get all your sleeping done at once?

Quite the opposite. Basically, the greater number of times that you sleep, the shorter the amount overall that you need. Shorter waking hours require more discipline though. You can go as short as 4 X 20 minutes- from what I've heard, but 6 X 20 is a more sensible minimum. It's still only 2 hours of sleeping and it feels less than that- kind of.

[faithsdaddy]

Originally Posted by goldberg

From all my reading of polyphasic sleep, it seems that few people actually manage to stick to the routine. You need to be able to accomodate the sleep pattern and that can be tough, if you have a 9-5 job or kids forget about it. If you miss a nap then you end up crashing.

I think people have had more success with biphasic sleep, but for me it just did not work. What I am trying at the moment is just reducing my sleep amounts from 8 to 7 hours and so far it has gone pretty well, though I do feel tired, I don't feel impaired and the extra hour is golden.

Very true. I did Da Vinci back in about 2000 when I was unemployed and Everyman for a year and a half, until April this year. It is demanding. I took weeks to full adjust. You have to really want it. I don't buy all this 'curious' nonsense. It's really really hard to adjust.

But if you do it, it will work and you won't feel tired.

[goldberg]

Originally Posted by sidefx

What is the benefit of Polyphasic sleep? Isn't it more efficient to just get all your sleeping done at once?

Benefit of polythasic sleep is less time wasted sleeping. If you can stick to it you only need 2 hours sleep a day! Unfortunately you can't just sleep 2 hours all in one go, it does not work like that.

[goldberg]

Originally Posted by faithsdaddy

Very true. I did Da Vinci back in about 2000 when I was unemployed and Everyman for a year and a half, until April this year. It is demanding. I took weeks to full adjust. You have to really want it. I don't buy all this 'curious' nonsense. It's really really hard to adjust.

But if you do it, it will work and you won't feel tired.

Good to know, at the moment my lifestyle precludes me from trying this out Still reducing sleep gradually seems to be working ok, previously I think I was just not giving it enough time to settle and adjust to.

[faithsdaddy]

Originally Posted by goldberg

Good to know, at the moment my lifestyle precludes me from trying this out Still reducing sleep gradually seems to be working ok, previously I think I was just not giving it enough time to settle and adjust to.

Start with a sleep amount that you know is enough. Sleep that much every night for a week or two and then trim 15 minutes off it. Wait several days (preferably a week) after it feels comfortable, then take off another 15. The further you go, the longer you'll need before you can take more time off- it takes longer because your body is having to adapt to less sleep.

A nap in the afternoon may help (did with me). Keep getting up at the same time every day is the secret to making this work. It helps to go to bed at the same time also, but is less important. The more you lower your sleep requirement, the less tolerant your body will be towards variances in sleeping times.

[richardxthripp]

I would suggest just sleeping when you're tired... for me that's usually 8am-4pm.

[goldberg]

Originally Posted by faithsdaddy

Start with a sleep amount that you know is enough. Sleep that much every night for a week or two and then trim 15 minutes off it. Wait several days (preferably a week) after it feels comfortable, then take off another 15. The further you go, the longer you'll need before you can take more time off- it takes longer because your body is having to adapt to less sleep.

A nap in the afternoon may help (did with me). Keep getting up at the same time every day is the secret to making this work. It helps to go to bed at the same time also, but is less important. The more you lower your sleep requirement, the less tolerant your body will be towards variances in sleeping times.

Thanks, I am going to stick at 7 hours for a while, then once that is locked in will try and push it down further as you suggest. What is your current sleeping schedule?

Unfortunately naps don't work for me as I drink coffee during the day and it stops me napping. Tried to give up but it was not worth it.

[faithsdaddy]

Originally Posted by goldberg

Thanks, I am going to stick at 7 hours for a while, then once that is locked in will try and push it down further as you suggest. What is your current sleeping schedule?

Unfortunately naps don't work for me as I drink coffee during the day and it stops me napping. Tried to give up but it was not worth it.

Sounds good, so long as 7 hours is enough. You need to start with having enough sleep. I too am a coffee drinker. I don't think I'm caffeine sensitive. I was already used to napping due to my job/ lifestyle, so found it easy to do.

At the moment, I sleep about 5 1/2 hours at night and take a short nap in the afternoon. Every once in a while, I will sleep about 8 hours at night. Maybe once a month.

[goldberg]

Originally Posted by faithsdaddy

Sounds good, so long as 7 hours is enough. You need to start with having enough sleep. I too am a coffee drinker. I don't think I'm caffeine sensitive. I was already used to napping due to my job/ lifestyle, so found it easy to do.

At the moment, I sleep about 5 1/2 hours at night and take a short nap in the afternoon. Every once in a while, I will sleep about 8 hours at night. Maybe once a month.

Something to work towards then I will be happy if I manage to get down to 6 hours a day.