Polyphasic Sleep

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i have often wondered if humans would evolve to the point where the standard 8 hours sleep is replaced by something like this.
 
It just makes you more sleepy all around - it's ok for toddlers and babies but not so good for adults. Napping is associated with less slow-wave sleep which is not necessarily a good thing.
 
I'm currently in a biphasic cycle, I get up for work at 5.30am, get home and sleep for 90mins about 3pm, then sleep from midnight ish. Rinse, repeat.

If I don't have that nap I'm out like a light by 7pm.
 
We were taught 1-2 hour naps but only in extreme circumstances....Xordium is right in that it simply makes you more tired over time and concentration and immune response lowers as a result. It also plays havoc with your normal sleep cycle. In my experience 4 hours is the minimum and still retain full cognitive and physical ability, and even then you need to catch up on that after a week or so before you begin to lose full waking effectiveness.

I still do it to this day, most of the week I get about 4-5 hours sleep a day, then crash for 10 every 5-7 days. Whether its healthy or not, who knows.
 
Fubsy said:
I'm currently in a biphasic cycle, I get up for work at 5.30am, get home and sleep for 90mins about 3pm, then sleep from midnight ish. Rinse, repeat.

If I don't have that nap I'm out like a light by 7pm.
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When I'm on early shift (04:00 rise) I'm usually in bed for 20:00 (21:00 at the latest) which gives me sufficient sleep to cope. I couldn't imagine finishing my shift then going home for a nap - I'd rather keep myself busy and stay awake until bed time. Everyone's different though and what works for one person may not suit the next . . . . . . . .
 
Castiel said:
I still do it to this day, most of the week I get about 4-5 hours sleep a day, then crash for 10 every 5-7 days. Whether its healthy or not, who knows.
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When I was younger I would very rarely get my 8 hours sleep, I would usually get 4-5 and then crash after a week or so but as I've got older I find the crash happening more and more frequently, Now if I have 4 hours 2 nights in a row I am useless come late afternoon on the 3rd day
 
cm1179 said:
i have often wondered if humans would evolve to the point where the standard 8 hours sleep is replaced by something like this.
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6 is the norm for me now but i've been thinking about changing to 5 and a nap instead. I did just 5 hours in one session for about 3 weeks before i started to feel the effects, they crept up on me fast too.

My body just doesn't want to sleep for longer than about 6 and a half. Doesn't matter how tired i am, fell asleep mid text last night and still woke up after about 6h 20, well before my alarm.
 
Interesting stuff, it looks like I inadvertently do a Biphasic (90-minute nap) pattern.
But regarding humans natural sleep patterns - surely knowing the sleep pattern of some untainted South American or Amazon tribe would answer the question.
And what is that answer?
 
I think given the way society is setup now and the day/light cycle, I dont think something like that uberman cycle is realistically possible as you need to work/ do things etc.

I think 8 hours is good for me but even if this could be reduced to say 6 hours, we are taking substantial increases in time available to do things. Although long term you'll probably end up burning out sooner or later.
 
cm1179 said:
i have often wondered if humans would evolve to the point where the standard 8 hours sleep is replaced by something like this.
Click to expand...

When you get old you can get away with 6 hours sleep but that's probably because you forget half the stuff your brain would usually process at night :D

MW
 
I've tried the version where you have 2 20 minute naps then 4 hours sleep but found it hard to actually sleep when I should be napping.
 
Im currently doing biphasic sleeping also. 1am-7am sleep with a nap at 5pm for 20-30 mins. It works when am at work and when am not at work :)
 
I normally need about 9 hours sleep. 10 is ideal but then I hate sleeping for that long because I feel like I'm wasting the day so I always wake up tired and feel tired for the first few hours after I've woken up. If I'm on a nightshift I'll normally have 5 hours sleep so I am waking up early to tire myself out to go to bed earlier the next night (my first day off).

But I can't nap at all. I normally wake up feeling worse, with a raging headache. And my face always feels funny afterwards, don't know why. But if I nap it makes me feel worse so I'd rather trudge through tiredly until proper sleep time.
 
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