Further reading * * * Polyphasic sleep record I have gotten a normal amount of sleep, and 0 of I'm ready to start. I've decided on a 3 hour schedule: half-hour naps at 1, 5, and 9 AM/PM. This currently seems to work well with my schedule and is easy to remember. Day 1 So, how did it go? Somewhat mixed. The AM naps went fine, although I suspect I got very little actual sleep. Mentally, I was a bit fuzzy, but not nearly as bad as I had expected; the fuzziness was actually on par with my normal nightshift-caused sleepiness. But the 1 PM nap went awful, as I quite ignored my alarm and slept for 2 hours. The 5 PM nap lasted 1.5 hours, but I think that was due to an improperly set alarm clock. Day 2 1 AM nap resulted in little sleep, as before. I find myself at 4 AM anxious for the 5 AM nap to come, and a little annoyed; this may be due to the rain confining me in the hut and inadequacies of my laptop. 5 AM nap delayed to 5:55, and then I slept until about 6:30 or 6:40 AM. Rain continues. I merged the 9 AM and 1 PM naps into a 11-12 PM block. The 5 PM nap went fine; but I could not nap at 9 PM since I simply had to watch _Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark_ with everyone else. So I decided to push it back to midnight. Day 3 I combined Day 2's 9 PM nap with today's 1 AM nap; so I slept from 12 AM to around 12:50, at which point I decided to get up. Oddly, my alarm did not seem to go off. I am mentally fine, but I worry that the long naps and oversleeping may be making the entire point moot, so I am going to try to keep a better tally of time - if I go much over 3 hours a day, that will be a warning to tighten things up. Regardless, the 5 AM nap went quite well; I am almost certain I went straight to REM sleep towards the end, and I managed to overcome the strong urge to keep laying there. Unfortunately, the 9 AM nap, as usual, was a failure. I slept a good 2 or 3 hours. So if I stick to the schedule, I'm only down to 6 hours a day - which is better than the 8 or 9 I was wasting before, but still not satisfying. 5 PM nap: fine. 9 PM nap: I'm not sure, but I was laying there like a corpse until 11 o'clock (2 hours). It could've either been my alarm, which seemed to be set to 12:33, or oversleeping although I would've sworn I was conscious the entire time, just daydreaming the minutes away. Day 4 I'm going to try harder today to stick to my schedule. I have things to do like scheduling an appointment and visiting the library and getting rid of all that excess junk, so perhaps they will supply motivation which, to be frank, was lacking yesterday. Mental acuity: pretty high. 1 AM: not particularly satisfactory. 5 AM nap: satisfactory. 9 AM nap: lasted until 3 PM. Dammit. It may be the weekend, and I may've blown today's sleep budget, but I am going to try, try again. I obviously skipped the 1 PM nap, and I took the 5 PM nap at 5:30, and the 9 PM nap at 9:30. Both went fine. Day 5 1 AM: fine. Lay there for a few minutes, but got up. 5 AM: U; little restfulness. 9 AM: S, but possibly lasted to 10:30 1:30 PM: S (quite vivid and complex dreams), but lasted to 3 PM 5 PM nap: S, though broken up over 3 hours thanks to chores, the Belmont, dinner... 9 PM: S Analysis I seem to be averaging about 4-5 hours of sleep a night when the often disastrous 9 AM and 1 PM naps are factored in. This is better than the 9 hours I would normally sleep, but progress needs to be made. Day 6 1 AM: S 5 AM: SS 9 AM: Overslept to 3 PM (5 hours of sleep) 5 PM: S 9 PM: Skipped (busy coding). Day 7 2 AM: S 5 AM: U 10 AM: Slept until 3 PM, thanks to the enervating heat. Installed air conditioner to fix that. Skipping 1 PM nap, obviously. 8 PM: S 10 PM: SS Day 8 1 AM: S 5 AM: U 9:30 AM: Slept until 4 PM 5 PM: S 9 PM: S Day 9 1 AM: U 6 AM: U 11 AM: S, slept until 5 (this was deliberate) 6 PM: S, slept until 10 (it was a tiring day) Day 10 1 AM: S 5 AM: S (although cold) 11 AM: Slept until 10 PM (very tiring work delayed me) Day 11 2 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: SS 1 PM: SS 6 PM: S 10 PM: S Day 12 2 AM: S 5 AM: S 11 AM: SS 3 PM: Slept to 9 (half deliberate, nothing in particular was scheduled to do.) Day 13 1 AM: S 5 AM: SS 9 AM: SS 2 PM: Slept until 6:30 Day 14 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S (slept until 11) 1 PM: S 5 PM: Slept until 7 10 PM: S Day 15 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S (slept until 12) 5 PM: Totally blew it. Laid around half-awake, half-sleep until 10 Day 16 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 9 AM: S 1 PM: s, drowsed until 5 Day 17 No records Day 18 1 AM: Slept until 9 deliberately (went shooting) 3 AM: Slept until 1 AM Day 19 3 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S 3 PM: S, until 10 PM Day 20 1 AM: S 10 AM: S, until 3 PM (skip 5 PM) 9 PM: S, until 10 PM Day 21 2 AM: S 6 AM: S 10 AM: S 3 PM: S, until 7 PM 10 PM: S Day 22 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S 2 PM: S, until 5/6 Day 23 1 AM: S 5 AM: SS 10 AM: SS 1 PM: S (drowsed until 10, skip 5/9) Day 24 1 AM: S 5 AM: SS 9 AM: U 1 PM: S 6 PM: S 10 PM: S Day 25 1 AM: S 5 AM: S (until 7:30, deliberate - trip today) 9 PM: S (until 5 AM) Day 26 9 AM: S 1 PM: U 6 PM: S (until 7, drowsed until 11) Day 27 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 11 AM: S 5 PM: SS 10 PM: S (until 11:30 PM) Day 28 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S (until 12 PM) 3 PM: S 6 PM: S (until 7:30) 11 PM: S Day 29 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S (until 3) 5 PM: S 10 PM: S (until 12) Day 30 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S 2 PM: S (until 8) 10:30 PM: S Day 31 2 AM: S 6 AM: S Today marks a full month since I started the 6-nap/half-hour program. It's been interesting, but I want to try going to full Uberman: 6-naps/20-minutes. So today I'll rest up as a reward and start tonight/tomorrow. (Same time-schedule - the naps are just shorter, not fewer. Although I might try later a 4-nap/half-hour schedule to see how well that works.) 9 AM: VS (until 9 PM) Day 32 2 AM: S 5 AM: U 9 AM: SS 2 PM: S 6 PM: S 11 PM: S (until 7 AM, deliberate) Day 33 11 AM: SS 2:30: U 6 PM: S (until 11 PM) Day 34 2 AM: S 6 AM: S 10 AM: S 2 PM: U 6 PM: S 9 PM: S Day 35 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 9:30 AM: S (until 3 PM) 7:30 PM S (until 9 PM) Day 36 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S (until 3 PM) 6 PM: S 9 PM: S (until 11:30 PM) Day 37 1:30 AM: S 5:30 AM: SS 9 AM: U 2 PM: U 6 PM: S (until 9) Day 38 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: SS (interrupted, until 2:30) 5 PM: S 9 PM: S Day 39 2 AM: S (until 6 AM; alarm accidentally wasn't set) 10 AM: U 3 PM: S 7 PM: S Day 40 1 AM: S (until 7; deliberate) 11:30 AM: SS 2 PM: S 6 PM: S 10 PM: S (until 11:40) Day 41 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 2 PM) 6:30: SS 9:30: S Day 42 2 AM: S 6 AM: S 10 AM: S (until 2) 5 PM: S 9 PM: U (until 11:30) Day 43 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 9 AM: SS (until 1; alarm didn't go off?) 6 PM: SS 10 PM: SS (until 11) Day 44 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 1) 6 PM: SS 10 PM: S (until 11) Day 45 2 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S 1 PM: S (until 5; forgot to set alarm) Day 46 2 AM: VS (until 8 AM) 10 AM: S (until 1) 5 PM: U 9 PM: VS (until 11 PM) Day 47 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S 2 PM: S (until 6 PM) 9 PM: U Day 48 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 3 PM) 5 PM: U 9 PM: SS (until 11:30 PM) Day 49 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 1 PM) 8 PM: S (until 11 PM) Day 50 1 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: S (until 1) 9 PM: VS (until 7 AM) This seems like a good day to switch schedules again. It technically is not the end of the month, but unfortunately, Month 2 is useless as data; the data is polluted. Why? Well, I foolishly attempted to also experiment with a wooden pillow (mixed success), and simultaneously changing my sleeping posture (from sleeping on my side to sleeping on my back). In addition, I had no choice but to begin a running program towards the end, which tired me out and totally screwed up my sleep patterns. So I'll just call it quits at the 20 day mark. Day 51 This month I'll still try the 2-hours-total criterion which is unique to Uberman, but I'm going to do it as 4 naps of 1/2 hours, and not 6 naps of 1/3 hours; the 2 naps will be at 3 and 9 (AM & PM). I start today, although I slept in as a treat. 9 AM: U 3 PM: S Day 52 5 AM: S (until 10 AM) 3 PM: S 9 PM: S Day 53 3 AM: S 10 AM: S (until 1 PM) 4 PM: S 9:30 PM: S Day 54 A side note; I find it really hard to get up after these naps, even though they are pretty restful once I get up and stop feeling suicidal. These and previous timings don't mention the half-hour I spend lying there awake getting the gumption to go and do something instead of sleeping. I suppose this is the standard sleep deprivation part. 3 AM: S 5 AM: S 10 AM: VS (until 6 PM) 10 PM: S (until 11:30) Day 55 3 AM: S 11 AM: S (until 3 PM) 9 PM: S Day 56 3 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 1 PM) 9 PM: S (until 11:15 PM, thanks to misset alarm) Day 57 3 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 1 PM) 9 PM: S (until 7 AM; accidentally set alarm to beep, not vibrate) Day 58 11:30 AM: S 9 PM: VS (until 8 AM; deliberate) Day 59 3 PM: S 9 PM: S Day 60 3 AM: S 11 AM: S (until 1 PM) 5 PM: S (until 7) 10 PM: U Day 61 3 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 12 PM) 4 PM: S 9 PM: S Day 62 3 AM: S 10 AM: S (until 1 PM) 6 PM: U 10 PM: U Day 63 3 AM: S 5 AM: S 12 AM: S (until 5 PM) 10 PM: S Day 64 3 AM: S (until 5) 10 AM: S (until 5) 10 PM: S (until 11:50) Day 65 3 AM: S (until 6) 12 AM: VS (until 2 PM) 11 PM: VS (until 9 AM) Day 66 See previous Day 67 3 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 2 PM) Day 68 3 AM: S (until 4:30) 9 AM: S (until 11:30 AM) 10 PM: S (until 11) Day 69 3 AM: S (until 6 AM) 9:30 PM: S (until 11) 4 PM: S (until 6) 9 PM: U Day 70 3 AM: S 10 AM: S (until 12:30) 5 PM: S 10 PM: S (until 11:30 PM) Day 71 1 AM: S (until 5 AM) 10 AM: S (until 1 PM) 10 PM: SS Day 72 3 AM: VS (until 9 AM) 3 PM: SS 10 PM: SS Day 73 3 AM: S (until 7 AM) 3 PM: S (until 5 PM) 9 PM: S Day 74 3 AM: S (until 5) 10 PM: S (until 12) Day 75 3 AM: S (until 7) 10 AM: S (until 1) 9 PM: S (until 11:30) Day 76 3 AM: S (until 7; alarm problem) 10 AM: S (until 1) 9 PM: U Day 77 1 AM: S (until 3 AM) 5 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 1 PM) 10 PM: S (until 11 PM) Day 78 1 AM: S (until 4 AM) 10 AM: S ??? Day 79 9 PM: S (until 6 AM) Day 80 5 PM: S (until 7) Day 81 4 AM: S 11 AM: S (until 3 PM) 10 PM: S Day 82 1 AM: S (until 3) 10 AM: S (until 2) 10 PM: S (until 11) Day 83 9 AM: S (until 2) 10 PM: S (until 11) Day 84 3 AM: S (until 6) 10 PM: S (until 11) Day 85 3 AM: S (until 5) 9 AM: S Day 85 1 AM: S (until 5) 10 AM: S (until 2 PM) 10 PM: S (until 6) Day 86 5 PM: S Day 87 12:30 AM: S (until 7 AM) 10 PM: S (until 12 AM) Day 89 3 AM: S (until 7) 10 PM: S (until 11:30 PM) Day 90 1 AM: S (until 6) 7 PM: S (until 9 PM) Day 91 3 AM: S (until 6) 10:30 AM (until 12:30) Day 92 1 AM: S (until 7) 10 PM: S (until 11) Day 93 1 AM: S 5 AM: S (until 6) 10 AM: S (until 12) 10 PM: S (until 4:30 AM) Day 94 12 AM: S (until 1:17 PM) 9:30 PM: U (until 4:30 AM) Day 95 10 AM: S 10 PM: SS Day 96 3 AM: VS (until 8 AM) 3 PM: S 9 PM: S Day 97 3 AM: S 7 AM: S 9 PM: S (until 10:30 AM) Day 98 I have decided to try to add a little more rigor to this experiment. I happen to have a copy of 'ThinkFast'. Every day I am going to run through its tests once and record it here. I emphasize that I am perfectly aware that the results are, in terms of actual functioning, meaningless - but presumably they will still be a little valid for measuring mental alertness from day to day (and hopefully the low-level mental functioning it is measuring will be a proxy for more important high-level functions). I'm not sure what program to use. I was going to use ThinkFast's IQ test, but unfortunately that repeats each time and so is useless; worse, it crashes WINE on some tests.. I think I will record overall results from gbrainy. I would use Mnemosyne statistics, but it doesn't provide them in a useful format. gbrainy: 57% Day 99 2 AM: S (until 4) 7 AM: S 9 PM: S Day 100 gbrainy: 54% 1 AM: S (until 2) 9 AM: S (until 1 PM) Day 101 1 AM: S (until 9 AM) 5 PM: S Day 102 1 AM: S 5 AM: S (until 9) 6:30 PM: S (until 7:30) Day 103 2 AM: S (until 5) 9:30: S (until 12:30) Day 104 2 AM: S (until 4) 7 AM: S (until 8) 6 PM: S (until 10 PM) Day 105 3 AM: S 9 AM: S (until 12) 9 PM: S Day 106 12 AM: S (until 4) 2 PM: S 6 PM: S 9:30 PM: S Day 107 gbrainy: 53% 12 AM: S (until 4) 9 AM: S (until 12) 10 PM: S (until 9 AM, because of Sara) Day 108 4 PM: SS 10 PM: S Day 109 gbrainy: 60% 2 AM: S (until 9 AM) 4:30 PM: S 9 PM: U Day 110 1:30 AM: S (until 4) 5 AM: S (until 6:30 AM) 8 AM: S (until 11 AM) Day 111 2 AM: S (until 4 AM) 7 AM: S (until 8) 2 PM: S (until 3:30 PM) 9 PM: S (until 10:20 PM) Day 112 gbrainy: 56% 12 AM: S (until 4 AM) 8 AM: S (until 1 PM) 9 PM: S (until 10 PM) Day 113 gbrainy: 60% 1 AM: S (until 4 AM) 11 AM: S (until 4 PM) 10 PM: VS (until 8 AM) Day 114 10 PM: S (until 7 AM) Day 115 gbrainy: 70% 9 PM: S Day 116 gbrainy: 54% 1 AM: S (until 6 AM) 10 PM: U (until 11 PM) Day 117 2 AM: U (until 4) 9 AM: S (until 12 AM) 9 PM: S Day 118 gbrainy: 56% 2 AM: SS (until 4) 9 AM: S (until 12:30) 6 PM: S Day 119 2 AM: S (until 4) 7 AM: S 2 PM: S 9 PM: S Day 120 2 AM: S (until 4) 5 AM: S (until 6) 8 AM: S (until 12 PM) 11 PM: S (until 8 AM) Day 121 gbrainy: 75% 10 PM: S (until 8 AM) Day 122 gbrainy: 56% 9 PM: S Day 123 gbrainy: 54% 1 AM: S (until 4) 8 AM: S (until 12 PM) Day 124 Day 125 Day 126 1 AM: S (until 4) 5 AM: S (until 6) 11 AM: S (until 2) Day 127 gbrainy: 57% 1:30 AM: S (until 8 AM) Day 128 2 AM: S (until 8 AM) 11 PM: S (until 8 AM) 15 October gbrainy: 71% -8 AM 18 October gbrainy: 66% 12-8 AM 19 October gbrainy: 59% 12-8 AM 20 October gbrainy: 70% 11 PM-9 AM 21 October 12-7 AM 22 October gbrainy: 60% 12-8 AM 23 October 12-7 AM 24 October 12-8:30 AM 28 October 12-8 29 October 11:30-9 5 Nov gbrainy: 65% 12:30-9:30 6 Nov 11:30-7 29 Nov 12:30AM-9:30 27 December I've decided to try again. This time I will be doing 20 minute naps every 6 hours. I've reflected on my past attempt and I think part of the issue may've been falling too fast asleep. Another modification is that I will try to have some caffeine after each nap; caffeine is absorbed within 30 minutes and metabolized within about 120 minutes, so it does not endanger the next nap. The final change I will be making is to routinize my use of Gbrainy. I've looked at my scores from when I was using it before, and I see minimal overall improvement from practice; so it should make as good a benchmark of my psychological acuity as I am likely to find. To prevent it being a chore, I'll cut back to 10 games (instead of 20). The schedule will be 10, 2, 6. 10:30: p gbrainy: 63% 28 December 2:30 Oops. Slept until 9:30. Will restart tonight. 10:50: g gbrainy: 75% 29 December 2:30: Oops. Slept until 10. Will restart tonight; I will move the schedule forward to 9, 1, 5. Perhaps 2 AM is just a bad point for me. 2:10: p 5:30: g 9:40: p gbrainy: 60% 30 December 1:30: Oops. Slept until 10. However, this time it was more by choice than involuntary, which is progress. 31 December 2:30: Slept until 6