I've been dreading posting this, but here it goes.
About 12 hours ago, I woke up from roughly 24 hours of sleep. That means I fell asleep on day 15, and woke up on what should have been day 16. It was a choice to lay down for a nap a bit early--I went to sleep at 1 planning to wake up at 2, but that didn't happen. It actually wasn't 24 hours straight; I think I woke up around 1 AM and stayed up until around 3 AM, then went back to bed.
After trying as hard as I did, I cannot conclude anything but this: for me, for now, it was impossible.
I might post more thoughts later.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Days 13 and 14: Improvement I don't need to look for
I sometimes still nod off at low-activity times, although it's very rare now. Other than that, though, evidence for my successful adaptation is pretty easy to see. Throughout all of today and yesterday I've had periods where I've felt tired, but never debilitatingly so, and those periods of fatigue were only when I wasn't moving around.
Surprisingly enough, while I have had naps with dreams, I've not yet had any one nap that felt fantastic. In my first attempt at uberman I had either one or two (can't remember which), but the type of nap was very distinct; if I had one, I would have known it.
For the last nap of day 14 and the first nap of day 15 (I just got up from it) I woke up before any alarm went off, feeling good, although there was a small amount of disorientation for both of them (I didn't know why I had woken up, for example, at first when I woke up).
Surprisingly enough, while I have had naps with dreams, I've not yet had any one nap that felt fantastic. In my first attempt at uberman I had either one or two (can't remember which), but the type of nap was very distinct; if I had one, I would have known it.
For the last nap of day 14 and the first nap of day 15 (I just got up from it) I woke up before any alarm went off, feeling good, although there was a small amount of disorientation for both of them (I didn't know why I had woken up, for example, at first when I woke up).
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Day 12: Mixed Signals, but Definite Improvement
The time between my first and second naps today was bearable, but after I woke up from my second nap I was pretty zombified. After a long while, I got ready to start to walk to town, then did so. But after a while, I started dozing off while I was walking. I should have been alarmed enough then to stop and call for a ride back home, but I shrugged it off and kept walking, in the hope that I would be much less after a little more walking. At one point I woke up from standing on the side of the road, and watched my Mom's car pull over. About the time that I realized I had been sleeping in one place, just standing up, I realized that she must have seen that and was more than freaked out. I got in the car and we headed home. On the way I promised her I wouldn't walk to town again without someone walking with me. The promised wasn't forced on my part, since I knew that dozing, standing up, on the side of a 45 mph road with no sidewalk, definitely wasn't safe.
The third nap of the day wasn't that spectacular, but after the fifth and sixth naps, I had a very high amount of energy. That was cool enough, but then on the first nap of the 13th day it was the same thing--I woke up feeling energized, and so far (I haven't taken the second nap yet) it has lasted throughout the whole waking period, even through 25 minutes of sitting quietly in a passenger seat of a car.
Wow, day 13 already. It seems like a dream come true that I'm actually adapting.
The third nap of the day wasn't that spectacular, but after the fifth and sixth naps, I had a very high amount of energy. That was cool enough, but then on the first nap of the 13th day it was the same thing--I woke up feeling energized, and so far (I haven't taken the second nap yet) it has lasted throughout the whole waking period, even through 25 minutes of sitting quietly in a passenger seat of a car.
Wow, day 13 already. It seems like a dream come true that I'm actually adapting.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Day 11 with evidence for adjustment
Since before my first nap (1:40 - 2:00 AM) today (6-23-08), I hung out with my dad so he could make sure I woke up from my first and second naps, and get me on my way to walking into town in the morning. He stayed up with me the same way on the morning of the 6th day, too. I remember what it was like, the first night, and by comparing the two, it became very obvious to me how much I had improved already in terms of energy.
In every car ride with him (four total for each day, two of which lasted more than 30 minutes) I nodded off pretty much constantly the first night I stayed up with him, but this morning I didn't even feel tired on any of the rides except for near the end of the last one, around 6:40 AM or so. Also, last time I distinctly remember being aware of, and fighting off, that urge to sleep. I remember it was there most of the morning that day, but today, I didn't feel tired at all, except for the aforementioned part of the last drive, and around a half an hour before Nap 2.
The effectiveness of my naps still does seem pretty random, though; some naps I'll feel so refreshed I feel jittery, but some naps I'll wake up and only want to go back to bed (although the latter is more rare now).
In every car ride with him (four total for each day, two of which lasted more than 30 minutes) I nodded off pretty much constantly the first night I stayed up with him, but this morning I didn't even feel tired on any of the rides except for near the end of the last one, around 6:40 AM or so. Also, last time I distinctly remember being aware of, and fighting off, that urge to sleep. I remember it was there most of the morning that day, but today, I didn't feel tired at all, except for the aforementioned part of the last drive, and around a half an hour before Nap 2.
The effectiveness of my naps still does seem pretty random, though; some naps I'll feel so refreshed I feel jittery, but some naps I'll wake up and only want to go back to bed (although the latter is more rare now).
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Day 10 and sitting in an easychair.
But first, I'm going to talk about day 9.
My first nap was a pretty good nap, but the second nap was a bit of a chore to wake up to. I went to town and back and took my 3rd nap. I woke up from that nap feeling as if I'd woken up from a "normal" night's sleep earlier than I should have. About an hour later, I was walking to a different room for something (I think to get socks) and I just kind of fell asleep while standing up for a bit. I woke up halfway down to the floor. I had enough time to catch myself, but I still made some noise. My mom rushed out and was clearly freaked out (I had just basically collapsed, afterall).
So I agreed that we'd go see a walk-in clinic, where they didn't give me any useful information that I didn't already know. I know, I'm sleep deprived, and I know, you don't suggest it. After a while of him repeating that and me repeating I'm going to try it, we left the clinic to barely make it in time for my 4th nap of the day. That nap wasn't particularly refreshing or disappointing.
A large part of the waking period from Nap 4 to Nap 5 was pretty miserable. Somehow I'd gotten a really depressed and hopeless about the whole thing. I started to feel better when I realized, you know what, I haven't overlept yet; I still have a chance, and a good one. Every nap since then has actually left me pretty refreshed, and I've been finding that I can sit in comfortable chairs and even lie down for a bit, without any danger of falling asleep or nodding off (unless I intend to like for my naps).
Now I'm getting pretty close to taking the fisrt nap of Day 10, and I am getting pretty excited over the idea that I could finally be pulling out of the harder part of the adjustment.
My first nap was a pretty good nap, but the second nap was a bit of a chore to wake up to. I went to town and back and took my 3rd nap. I woke up from that nap feeling as if I'd woken up from a "normal" night's sleep earlier than I should have. About an hour later, I was walking to a different room for something (I think to get socks) and I just kind of fell asleep while standing up for a bit. I woke up halfway down to the floor. I had enough time to catch myself, but I still made some noise. My mom rushed out and was clearly freaked out (I had just basically collapsed, afterall).
So I agreed that we'd go see a walk-in clinic, where they didn't give me any useful information that I didn't already know. I know, I'm sleep deprived, and I know, you don't suggest it. After a while of him repeating that and me repeating I'm going to try it, we left the clinic to barely make it in time for my 4th nap of the day. That nap wasn't particularly refreshing or disappointing.
A large part of the waking period from Nap 4 to Nap 5 was pretty miserable. Somehow I'd gotten a really depressed and hopeless about the whole thing. I started to feel better when I realized, you know what, I haven't overlept yet; I still have a chance, and a good one. Every nap since then has actually left me pretty refreshed, and I've been finding that I can sit in comfortable chairs and even lie down for a bit, without any danger of falling asleep or nodding off (unless I intend to like for my naps).
Now I'm getting pretty close to taking the fisrt nap of Day 10, and I am getting pretty excited over the idea that I could finally be pulling out of the harder part of the adjustment.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
First dream nap
I had my first dream nap recently--Nap 4 (1:20-2:00 PM) of yesterday/day 7 (6-20-08), and this last nap (Nap 1 of Day 8) refreshed me more than a single nap had for at least a couple of days. Also, I've been trying out sitting on couches again when someone can watch me and make sure I don't dose off, and I find I can sit on them for longer than I could sit in a car without nodding off. It seems a bit early to say so, at day 8, but I could be already coming out of the worst part of this. Don't get me wrong, I would be ecstatic if I knew that for sure--it's just too much hope and not enough evidence to really get me excited.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
A vague update on the past few days
There have been some changes since my last post, besides the lack of videos. I've decided to take every activity but the 6a and 6p "walk to town" out. I realized that I stay awake much easier if I'm just doing the stuff that sounds fun at the time. On the night of the 6th, I played with Knex pretty much the whole night with my friend, and I was wide awake the whole time.
And speaking of being awake, these first seven days of adjustment have been very confusing. I felt pretty much the same (pretty alert, not very tired) throughout the whole adjustment. There have only been 3 times where I felt seriously sleep-deprived. Two you can read about in previous posts, and the other is very recent: Between my 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM naps today, I was extremely sleep-deprived. It was the most intense sleep-dep I've experienced so far in this experiment, and thankfully, my girlfriend was over to help me stay up. Now, after I've woken up from my 6 AM nap, I'm back to normal again.
Let me define normal real quick, before I end this post: When say I feel normal throughout this experiment, I mean that as long as I'm not bored, I feel awake. As long as I keep myself busy. During these times, a to-do list and a box of Knex goes a long way. But when I'm feeling sleep-deprived like in the previous paragraph, all I can really do is stay physically active and bear it out.
And speaking of being awake, these first seven days of adjustment have been very confusing. I felt pretty much the same (pretty alert, not very tired) throughout the whole adjustment. There have only been 3 times where I felt seriously sleep-deprived. Two you can read about in previous posts, and the other is very recent: Between my 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM naps today, I was extremely sleep-deprived. It was the most intense sleep-dep I've experienced so far in this experiment, and thankfully, my girlfriend was over to help me stay up. Now, after I've woken up from my 6 AM nap, I'm back to normal again.
Let me define normal real quick, before I end this post: When say I feel normal throughout this experiment, I mean that as long as I'm not bored, I feel awake. As long as I keep myself busy. During these times, a to-do list and a box of Knex goes a long way. But when I'm feeling sleep-deprived like in the previous paragraph, all I can really do is stay physically active and bear it out.
No more video Blogs
I've decided that the effort of doing a video blog isn't worth the benefits. It takes about a whole waking period to get the video to my computer, edit out the naps, add subtitles, and upload it to the blog. Lately it's become such a chore that I start nodding off while I am doing it. While I usually don't feel that tired, if I'm sitting down for too long or doing something I don't really like, I'll start nodding off and feeling loopy.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Firist Mistake!
You know, they say not to get overconfident. And you'd think that after seeing people do just that I'd not get overconfident myself, but I did. It was only a small mistake, really: I took a nap when no one else was home, and didn't ask someone to call me when I should wake up. I thought something like "Well this will be my personal success--to prove that I could do it myself. "
Anyway, I ended up waking up, looking confusingly at my camera (as if to say "why is this recording?") , and turning it off. Then, I remember standing in front of the couch for probably 2-5 minutes trying to justify sleeping for a bit more. I eventually set the alarms for ten minutes, and the loud one for (I thought) around 15 minutes. But somehow, the big one was set for a bit after 11, and that's when I finally woke up.
So I slept for about an hour more than I should have. Compared to most oversleeps you would hear about, it's really not that bad at all, but it still feel really down from the fact that it happened. After that, I tried to find stuff to do to stay awake, and finally got into a good Team Fortress game that pulled me completely from that lingering tiredness.
Also, my 4th nap (1:40 - 2:00 PM) passed without me realizing, so I had to take it quickly, and forgot to set up the camera. But I think that will be the extent of the damage from that oversleep, and it really hasn't caused that much harm. I'll just make sure now to always have someone ready to call at the end of the nap, if no one is there to wake me up in person.
Anyway, I ended up waking up, looking confusingly at my camera (as if to say "why is this recording?") , and turning it off. Then, I remember standing in front of the couch for probably 2-5 minutes trying to justify sleeping for a bit more. I eventually set the alarms for ten minutes, and the loud one for (I thought) around 15 minutes. But somehow, the big one was set for a bit after 11, and that's when I finally woke up.
So I slept for about an hour more than I should have. Compared to most oversleeps you would hear about, it's really not that bad at all, but it still feel really down from the fact that it happened. After that, I tried to find stuff to do to stay awake, and finally got into a good Team Fortress game that pulled me completely from that lingering tiredness.
Also, my 4th nap (1:40 - 2:00 PM) passed without me realizing, so I had to take it quickly, and forgot to set up the camera. But I think that will be the extent of the damage from that oversleep, and it really hasn't caused that much harm. I'll just make sure now to always have someone ready to call at the end of the nap, if no one is there to wake me up in person.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I am a social creature
I already knew I was a social creature, but I didn't know it was this extreme.
After the 2nd nap today (5th day), I started walking into town, trusting the walk to wake me up. But it didn't, to my surprise. I got probably about a fifth of the way to town when my mom saw me on the side of the road and pulled over to talk to me. I asked for a ride into town, thinking the thick of the city would be more stimulating than the road to it. I was wrong, however. I was still really tired--When I was waiting for a breakfast burrito at Carls Jr., I had to keep lifting my head from where it drooped over my table.
Anyway, I made my way to Fred Meyer, and chatted with my boss and the morning people (I work there, but have 19 days off for the adaptation period) about how tired I was or how recent naps had gone. Near the end of the conversation, I realized I simply wasn't tired anymore. And the whole walk home, I was the opposite of how I was before I'd hit Fred Meyer--I was awake and happy. Similarly, when I got home it was hard for me to sit without nodding off while I waited for a half an hour for my 3rd nap to roll around. I woke up Chancey and talked to him, and never even got close to nodding off until my nap.
After the 2nd nap today (5th day), I started walking into town, trusting the walk to wake me up. But it didn't, to my surprise. I got probably about a fifth of the way to town when my mom saw me on the side of the road and pulled over to talk to me. I asked for a ride into town, thinking the thick of the city would be more stimulating than the road to it. I was wrong, however. I was still really tired--When I was waiting for a breakfast burrito at Carls Jr., I had to keep lifting my head from where it drooped over my table.
Anyway, I made my way to Fred Meyer, and chatted with my boss and the morning people (I work there, but have 19 days off for the adaptation period) about how tired I was or how recent naps had gone. Near the end of the conversation, I realized I simply wasn't tired anymore. And the whole walk home, I was the opposite of how I was before I'd hit Fred Meyer--I was awake and happy. Similarly, when I got home it was hard for me to sit without nodding off while I waited for a half an hour for my 3rd nap to roll around. I woke up Chancey and talked to him, and never even got close to nodding off until my nap.
Day 4
Here's the video for day 4:
Some notes:
Kyle said that I woke up from the 4th nap a few minutes before the alarms went off, saying that I needed to get up (but sounding very tired). He told me I still had a few minutes left, and I rolled over and went right back to sleep. I very vaguely remember it.
When I'm waking up from Nap 4 for the last time, that's Kyle who sits down and tells me to sit up, since it's obvious I'm reluctant to get up. Waking up from this nap was by far the hardest, yet the period of wakeful afterward was one of the more alert ones.
Some notes:
Kyle said that I woke up from the 4th nap a few minutes before the alarms went off, saying that I needed to get up (but sounding very tired). He told me I still had a few minutes left, and I rolled over and went right back to sleep. I very vaguely remember it.
When I'm waking up from Nap 4 for the last time, that's Kyle who sits down and tells me to sit up, since it's obvious I'm reluctant to get up. Waking up from this nap was by far the hardest, yet the period of wakeful afterward was one of the more alert ones.
Monday, June 16, 2008
That was very scary.
Wow.
In my previous post I talk about how tired I was. Let me assure you, I was understating it quite a bit, mostly because I was too tired to realize how tired I was. Looking back, it's scary--if my brother hadn't been home, I might not have woken up from naps 3 or 4. When I was eating after the 3rd nap, he looked back and saw me sitting there with my head drooped and my eyes closed. "Logan!" "*mumble*" "Stand up and eat!". I didn't argue; it made sense so I did so. He continued, "Get a cup of water. Cold water." So I dumped out my water and let the water run before refilling the glass. I dunno if it helped, but the point is that I was very tired.
My legs were sore (and still are) from walking so much; I'd thought I was acclimated enough, but I was not. So walking into town wasn't a viable option, because I didn't want to wear out my legs further. I ended up walking my dog very slowly for a while, working my legs lightly enough to where I felt I wasn't working them too hard. I also moved some big rocks around for a while, and used the elliptical my Mom has in the living room. I was able to stay up until my nap, and i quickly fell asleep.
I woke up thinking (with no real evidence) that there was a mistake somehow, and I hadn't gotten a full 20 minutes. My brother was still home, though, so he was able to force me up and start me eating. Just as I was starting to dread another period of struggling to stay awake, I realized: I'm not tired anymore.
It was a slower realization than that implies, but once I did fully realize the truth of it, I was ecstatic. Not only do I not have to go through that crap again (not yet anyway) but also, that 20-minute nap replenished me significantly. It's about 2 hours and 40 minute since I woke up from that nap, and I'm still very much awake. And this is all without any physical activity, just watching my brother play Ninja Gaiden II (pretty sweet game) and posting here on the blog.
I played one of my favorite albums pretty loud, and sang along loudly too. I'm still jittery with relief and happiness.
In my previous post I talk about how tired I was. Let me assure you, I was understating it quite a bit, mostly because I was too tired to realize how tired I was. Looking back, it's scary--if my brother hadn't been home, I might not have woken up from naps 3 or 4. When I was eating after the 3rd nap, he looked back and saw me sitting there with my head drooped and my eyes closed. "Logan!" "*mumble*" "Stand up and eat!". I didn't argue; it made sense so I did so. He continued, "Get a cup of water. Cold water." So I dumped out my water and let the water run before refilling the glass. I dunno if it helped, but the point is that I was very tired.
My legs were sore (and still are) from walking so much; I'd thought I was acclimated enough, but I was not. So walking into town wasn't a viable option, because I didn't want to wear out my legs further. I ended up walking my dog very slowly for a while, working my legs lightly enough to where I felt I wasn't working them too hard. I also moved some big rocks around for a while, and used the elliptical my Mom has in the living room. I was able to stay up until my nap, and i quickly fell asleep.
I woke up thinking (with no real evidence) that there was a mistake somehow, and I hadn't gotten a full 20 minutes. My brother was still home, though, so he was able to force me up and start me eating. Just as I was starting to dread another period of struggling to stay awake, I realized: I'm not tired anymore.
It was a slower realization than that implies, but once I did fully realize the truth of it, I was ecstatic. Not only do I not have to go through that crap again (not yet anyway) but also, that 20-minute nap replenished me significantly. It's about 2 hours and 40 minute since I woke up from that nap, and I'm still very much awake. And this is all without any physical activity, just watching my brother play Ninja Gaiden II (pretty sweet game) and posting here on the blog.
I played one of my favorite albums pretty loud, and sang along loudly too. I'm still jittery with relief and happiness.
Out of Nowhere
Holy crap.
After 17 naps with no sleep momentum and very little fatigue, nap number 18 (3rd nap of the day) comes along, and the period after it gets me with a surprise attack. Since I woke up from that nap, it's been a pretty strong, constant urge to go to sleep. I remember in the shower I was halfway dreaming at the same time. At the end of the shower I cranked the cold all the way up and the heat all the way down, which helped for about ten minutes.
I can't wait for this coming nap. It will feel awesome at first, although it might not revive me much.
After 17 naps with no sleep momentum and very little fatigue, nap number 18 (3rd nap of the day) comes along, and the period after it gets me with a surprise attack. Since I woke up from that nap, it's been a pretty strong, constant urge to go to sleep. I remember in the shower I was halfway dreaming at the same time. At the end of the shower I cranked the cold all the way up and the heat all the way down, which helped for about ten minutes.
I can't wait for this coming nap. It will feel awesome at first, although it might not revive me much.
A casual post
I've been so busy during these first few days that I kind of turned this thing into a data dump, rather than a fleshed out blog. Now that I should have a bit more free time, I should be able to post here more about how I feel or what I think about the whole thing.
I am really surprised that I am not any more tired by now. It is the fourth day of the adjustment (I just woke up from the third nap for today) and this is the first nap that I've felt a noticeable desire to go back to sleep for more than a few minutes. Usually when I wake up and start eating, the desire disappears within a couple minutes (although I can still be tired), but this time it just diminished a gradually over about ten minutes. I'm still feeling it now, although it is slight. I've been avoiding couches altogether since my first night of uberman, but until now it was just to build the habit of the action. Now, I think if I were to sit down on a couch, I might start to nod off or lay down to sleep.
I'm too tired to keep blogging; I'm going to start doing some of the activities i have planned for this waking period. Wish me luck!
I am really surprised that I am not any more tired by now. It is the fourth day of the adjustment (I just woke up from the third nap for today) and this is the first nap that I've felt a noticeable desire to go back to sleep for more than a few minutes. Usually when I wake up and start eating, the desire disappears within a couple minutes (although I can still be tired), but this time it just diminished a gradually over about ten minutes. I'm still feeling it now, although it is slight. I've been avoiding couches altogether since my first night of uberman, but until now it was just to build the habit of the action. Now, I think if I were to sit down on a couch, I might start to nod off or lay down to sleep.
I'm too tired to keep blogging; I'm going to start doing some of the activities i have planned for this waking period. Wish me luck!
Day 3
Here's the Video for Day 3
I still don't really feel that tired. I do feel more tired after my naps now, but other than that I still feel pretty awake and hardly fatigued at all.
I still don't really feel that tired. I do feel more tired after my naps now, but other than that I still feel pretty awake and hardly fatigued at all.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Specifics (Revision 1)
This is just like the last Specifics post, but with the changes in bold. Most of you should probably skip over this; it's not too interesting.
Daily Schedule:
1:40 - 2:00 Nap
Do all of the dishes
Create Nature Scavenger Hunt List
5:40 - 6:00 Nap
Walk to Fred Meyers and back (2 h 10 m + shopping time)
9:40 - 10:00 Nap
Walk to Fred Meyers and back OR: garden for 30 m, walk the dog for 20 m, and cook (with Mom or Kyle (Kyle is my brother))
13:40 - 14:00 Nap
Use Scavenger Hunt List from earlier, and find as much as possible. 30 m minimum
Map some foot-trails around my neighborhood. 30 m minimum
17:40 - 18:00 Nap
Walk to Fred Meyers and back (2 h 10 m + shopping time)
Shower
21:40 - 22:00 Nap
Move Rocks (20 m minimum)
Update Blog
Alarm System
Watch timer set to 20 minutes
First kitchen timer set to 21 minutes and within hand's reach
Second kitchen timer set to 30 minutes and handed to friend armed with cold water
Clock with alarm set for *:02 that I have to get up to turn off
Extremely loud alarm clock set for around *:08, across the room (This alarm is freakin' loud, and I hate it going off. It also goes for half an hour before turning off. I will not sleep through this one)
The clocks I will set a few minutes before I start my video blog, and get the timers ready then too. I'll say what I have to say to the camera, then lay down, then start the two timers and my watch and set the timers down where they need to go.
Daily Schedule:
1:40 - 2:00 Nap
Do all of the dishes
Create Nature Scavenger Hunt List
5:40 - 6:00 Nap
Walk to Fred Meyers and back (2 h 10 m + shopping time)
9:40 - 10:00 Nap
Walk to Fred Meyers and back OR: garden for 30 m, walk the dog for 20 m, and cook (with Mom or Kyle (Kyle is my brother))
13:40 - 14:00 Nap
Use Scavenger Hunt List from earlier, and find as much as possible. 30 m minimum
Map some foot-trails around my neighborhood. 30 m minimum
17:40 - 18:00 Nap
Walk to Fred Meyers and back (2 h 10 m + shopping time)
Shower
21:40 - 22:00 Nap
Move Rocks (20 m minimum)
Update Blog
Alarm System
Watch timer set to 20 minutes
First kitchen timer set to 21 minutes and within hand's reach
Second kitchen timer set to 30 minutes and handed to friend armed with cold water
Clock with alarm set for *:02 that I have to get up to turn off
Extremely loud alarm clock set for around *:08, across the room (This alarm is freakin' loud, and I hate it going off. It also goes for half an hour before turning off. I will not sleep through this one)
The clocks I will set a few minutes before I start my video blog, and get the timers ready then too. I'll say what I have to say to the camera, then lay down, then start the two timers and my watch and set the timers down where they need to go.
Second Half of Day 2
Here is the video with the second half of the naps from day 2.
I am pretty surprised at how awake I still feel. On a scale of 0 (not sleepy) to 10 (dozing off while standing) I honestly only feel like I'm around 1 or maybe 2. I think it is probably largely due to my being pretty busy (with this blog, walking, video gaming, and general preparation for this experiment) and my being with friends so often.
I am pretty surprised at how awake I still feel. On a scale of 0 (not sleepy) to 10 (dozing off while standing) I honestly only feel like I'm around 1 or maybe 2. I think it is probably largely due to my being pretty busy (with this blog, walking, video gaming, and general preparation for this experiment) and my being with friends so often.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
First Video--day 1/2
The naps are numbered 1 - 6, with the first nap I took being the first. This would be kind of confusing, though, if I kept up this numbering. With the next video I upload, it will be numbered with the first nap after midnight (so the 1:40 - 2:00 nap) named nap 1.
Notes on this video:
When I got up to get another alarm, it was to get the loud alarm. I believe that to have the best chance to succeed, I have to make rules and stick to them no matter how silly they seem at the time--because I can't really trust my judgement later on, when I'm seriously sleep-deprived. I had decided earlier that day that all my rules should go into effect after the 22:00 nap, and having that loud alarm for each nap was one of those rules. While I didn't need to have that loud alarm to wake up, I still think it was important to follow the rules no matter what I thought about them.
I need to really get a new program to use than Windows Movie Maker. It seemed okay at first but I am really learning to hate it, and fast.
Notes on this video:
When I got up to get another alarm, it was to get the loud alarm. I believe that to have the best chance to succeed, I have to make rules and stick to them no matter how silly they seem at the time--because I can't really trust my judgement later on, when I'm seriously sleep-deprived. I had decided earlier that day that all my rules should go into effect after the 22:00 nap, and having that loud alarm for each nap was one of those rules. While I didn't need to have that loud alarm to wake up, I still think it was important to follow the rules no matter what I thought about them.
I need to really get a new program to use than Windows Movie Maker. It seemed okay at first but I am really learning to hate it, and fast.
Specifics
For those wondering about the details, for whatever reason. Also for me to put all this information in one place.
My friend, Chancey, started out with me, planning to adjust with me. Around 4:00 PM today (Second day of adjustment), however, he got a ride back to his house and fell asleep for some amount of time quite a bit longer than 20 minutes. He isn't the most motivated for the results, and to be perfectly honest I think that that means he doesn't have any chance whatsoever. So that's who I mention sometimes in the nap videos, but for now I'm going to assume that he won't be adjusting with me.
Edit: I didn't mean to sound quite so much like a self-important jerk, and Chancey has helped me a lot and still will if I need it, I think. I realized that paragraph might have sounded more jerkish than I meant it to.
Daily Schedule:
1:40 - 2:00 Nap
Do all of the dishes
5:40 - 6:00 Nap
Walk to Fred Meyer and back (2 h 10 m + shopping time)
9:40 - 10:00 Nap
Walk to a friend's house and back OR: garden for 30 m, walk the dog for 20 m, and cook (with Mom or Kyle (Kyle is my brother))
13:40 - 14:00 Nap
Whatever choice wasn't chosen from the last nap
17:40 - 18:00 Nap
Shower
21:40 - 22:00 Nap
Move Rocks
Update Blog
Alarm System
Watch timer set to 20 minutes
First kitchen timer set to 20 minutes and within hand's reach
Second kitchen timer set to 21 minutes and within reach if I halfway get up
Clock with alarm set for *:03 that I have to get up to turn off
Extremely loud alarm clock set for around *:08, across the room (This alarm is freakin' loud, and I hate it going off. It also goes for half an hour before turning off. I will not sleep through this one)
The clocks I will set a few minutes before I start my video blog, and get the timers ready then too. I'll say what I have to say to the camera, then lay down, then start the two timers and my watch and set the timers down where they need to go.
And if you count the friend waiting in the nights with a cup of fresh, cold water for my face (I am serious), that is six alarms.
My friend, Chancey, started out with me, planning to adjust with me. Around 4:00 PM today (Second day of adjustment), however, he got a ride back to his house and fell asleep for some amount of time quite a bit longer than 20 minutes. He isn't the most motivated for the results, and to be perfectly honest I think that that means he doesn't have any chance whatsoever. So that's who I mention sometimes in the nap videos, but for now I'm going to assume that he won't be adjusting with me.
Edit: I didn't mean to sound quite so much like a self-important jerk, and Chancey has helped me a lot and still will if I need it, I think. I realized that paragraph might have sounded more jerkish than I meant it to.
Daily Schedule:
1:40 - 2:00 Nap
Do all of the dishes
5:40 - 6:00 Nap
Walk to Fred Meyer and back (2 h 10 m + shopping time)
9:40 - 10:00 Nap
Walk to a friend's house and back OR: garden for 30 m, walk the dog for 20 m, and cook (with Mom or Kyle (Kyle is my brother))
13:40 - 14:00 Nap
Whatever choice wasn't chosen from the last nap
17:40 - 18:00 Nap
Shower
21:40 - 22:00 Nap
Move Rocks
Update Blog
Alarm System
Watch timer set to 20 minutes
First kitchen timer set to 20 minutes and within hand's reach
Second kitchen timer set to 21 minutes and within reach if I halfway get up
Clock with alarm set for *:03 that I have to get up to turn off
Extremely loud alarm clock set for around *:08, across the room (This alarm is freakin' loud, and I hate it going off. It also goes for half an hour before turning off. I will not sleep through this one)
The clocks I will set a few minutes before I start my video blog, and get the timers ready then too. I'll say what I have to say to the camera, then lay down, then start the two timers and my watch and set the timers down where they need to go.
And if you count the friend waiting in the nights with a cup of fresh, cold water for my face (I am serious), that is six alarms.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Starting Polyphasic Sleeping (Uberman/equihexiphasic schedule)
This will be my blog for my third attempt at adjusting to polyphasic sleep, and specifically, the uberman schedule. I'll be using primarily videos to blog, and hosting them here, with some text to go along with the videos. I'm planning to record my thoughts or whatever I have to say before each nap, then leave the camera on record so I can wake up and briefly talk about how the nap was or whatever. Then I'll edit out the 20 minutes of my nap. After six naps, I'll upload the video for the day and post a link here, with a text update as well.
Tomorrow I start. The initial two weeks of adjustment will be centered right on the Summer Solstice. I had that date planned for probably two or three months, because I live in Alaska, and that much more daylight could make a big difference.
I'm excited. I've been counting down the days since 43 days ago. And I'm ready. I have a buddy who wants to try to adjust with me, and I've asked various friends to stay up with me each night until I take my morning walk at 6 AM. So hopefully, I'll never be alone. I'll be walking for about 4 total hours each day, in two 2-hour chunks, and I have various activities planned for each waking period throughout the day, as well as a formidable to-do list. The idea is to try so hard and with so much help, that if I fail, there will be no reason to try again for a long time, because there will be no other reasonable conclusion to draw except that for me as I am now, it's impossible.
Wish me luck!
Tomorrow I start. The initial two weeks of adjustment will be centered right on the Summer Solstice. I had that date planned for probably two or three months, because I live in Alaska, and that much more daylight could make a big difference.
I'm excited. I've been counting down the days since 43 days ago. And I'm ready. I have a buddy who wants to try to adjust with me, and I've asked various friends to stay up with me each night until I take my morning walk at 6 AM. So hopefully, I'll never be alone. I'll be walking for about 4 total hours each day, in two 2-hour chunks, and I have various activities planned for each waking period throughout the day, as well as a formidable to-do list. The idea is to try so hard and with so much help, that if I fail, there will be no reason to try again for a long time, because there will be no other reasonable conclusion to draw except that for me as I am now, it's impossible.
Wish me luck!
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