This is the second post from our February Featured Blogger, polyphasic students Diego, Liam, Taus, and Amanda of Get Polyphased. In this post we get an update on their adaptation process - the make or break period that many in the polyphasic community say is key to this new sleeping style. Each one has handled adaptation differently, which may relate to the fact that everyone's sleep is inherently different.
Three Days In: I'm Exhausted
Five Days In: Adaptation Bites
Diego
Staying up late has proven to be very difficult.
We have gotten through the first week of this project but It's been rough. Staying up late has proven to be very difficult.
Over the three week nights that we did this project, I read two full books. The problem with books is that I have a hard time staying awake, no matter how good the book is. I tried TV as well, and got similar results.
On Friday, however, I tried to stay up by playing some video games. I found that this was way easier than reading, and I think it has something to do with the fact that on a video game there is user input. This would have been a great weekend plan, had I not gotten sick on Friday night.
At about 11 pm I came down with a fever (I think it was probably a plea from my body to get some sleep). I tried to ignore it but that didn't help. I went to bed early in the hope that some rest would make the fever go away. It did.
After 6 hours of rest, I felt better but still decided to take it easy Saturday night to ensure my recovery. Last night I started getting back on track with a 3 hour night. I plan on trying to shift down to two hours tonight. I am now behind schedule, but I hope to be able to get back on track quickly.
Liam
I am extremely tired right now because of this project.
I am extremely tired right now because of this project. It has been a real challenge to get my body adjusted to polyphasic sleep, yet surprisingly, I am functioning quite well for 3 hours of sleep ( I got my black belt in karate and went out with friends until midnight with little problems).
Saturday night, I took my nightly nap, and since it was only my second nap instead of third, I thought it would be a good idea to turn off the alarm and then lie in bed for a bit to be more awake for the rest of the night.
At 9:00pm my alarm went off. I turned it off and closed my eyes for a few minutes - and opened my eyes at 9:00 the next morning. I guess that’s just my body telling me that it’s not adjusted to polyphasic sleeping, but oh well.
I have a piano lesson now, but when I get home I will take my 30 minute nap, and then sleep from 1-3.
At least, that’s the plan.
Taus
My weekend was really, really long
My weekend was really, really long. I was awake for most of it and used my time to be very very productive. I used Netflix to get caught up on stuff and watched Sherlock, Firefly, and Doctor Who. Then I played Starcraft 2
I failed on Friday night, slept from 8:30-1:00 but spent the rest of my weekend doing the whole system pretty well. A nap every 5-6 hours and 2 hours of sleep - I’m actually starting to enjoy it.
My naps are fully REM according to the Zeo, which is cool, and a bit strange because so far all of them have been lucid dreams.
My weekend was pretty uneventful until about 4:30 monday morning. I looked at the clock is was 4:30 then what felt like a few seconds later I looked at the clock. It was 5:30. I think I fell asleep but I have no recollection of it or anything else for that hour.
Amanda
I am trying to find something to keep me up
This weekend went pretty well. The naps during the day went well but I started pushing back my night nap until sometime around midnight. When it gets late, staying up is harder to do so I thought that doing that would fix it and give me an energy boost to stay up until my 2 hour stretch. This didn’t work and actually made me more tired. Currently, I am trying to take my nightly nap around 9.
I’m also trying to find something to keep me up because neither reading nor watching T.V. has been very successful.
I also have the issue of having hockey practice at 5:30 am. Although I am able to get up and perform well at practice, it saps up a lot of the energy I have for the day which makes me especially tired at night.
This article comes from the team at REM Sleep Labs, an accredited sleep testing center with Sleep Centers in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Their goal is to develop and maintain high quality healthcare service and provide education to the public and healthcare professionals.
Making sure that teenagers get enough sleep is a daunting task.
published by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 13:35
Although alcohol sometimes helps to induce sleep, it actually prevents you from getting a full night’s rest. And its effects last longer than you might think. Drinking in the afternoon can interfere with your sleep that night. Moderation and timing are keys to minimizing the sleep-robbing effects of alcohol. Here are some tips for minimizing alcohol’s negative effects on sleep.
published by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 13:32
Caffeine could be keeping many of us awake at night because its effects are more long-lasting than we realize. Experts recommend cutting off the caffeine seven hours before bedtime. Here are some tips for caffeine use.
published by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 11:00
Alertness, memory, job performance and mood all depend on adequate sleep. In fact, sleep deprivation can impair your thinking as much or more than alcohol.
So what's keeping Americans from making time for sleep?
Changes in our sleep patterns are a normal and common part of aging, but there are things you can do if you begin having trouble getting a good night's sleep. Although sleep problems can increase with age due to medical issues and changing circadian clocks, age alone does not cause sleep problems.
As HealthGuide.org puts it:
Poor sleep habits, untreated sleep disorders, medications, or medical problems can contribute to sleeplessness.
As such, gaining a clear understanding of how your body is changing and using tried and true ways to respond to those shifts can do a lot to help you get a better night's sleep. (Talking to your doctor is a great place to start.)
Jetlag is a real pain; it's difficult to adjust to a new time zone quickly and that lag leaves us feeling cranky, exhausted, and often throws our sleep schedule off.
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