We were aware that difficulties were bound to arise, but we didn’t realize how bad sleep deprivation truly feels. Alex went back to being monophasic, but I was determined. To make it work, I changed to an easier sleep schedule: the Everyman, where I slept for 3.5 hours at night and took three 20-minute naps in the day.
After three weeks and a few more obstacles, I finally settled into the new schedule. I was getting 4.5 hours of sleep in total, which was just a little more than half the hours I used to sleep.
The extra time was proving to be a wonderful benefit: I finished my first-year thesis; successfully defended it; decided that after finishing my doctorate I didn’t want to be in academia for the rest of my life; got a chance to explore Oxford University’s wonderful offerings without sacrificing on lab time; started exploring other career options, including writing, which eventually led me to become a journalist.
There were other gains. I found myself waking up fully refreshed after a nap. Quite often, before the alarm began ringing. The best bit was that I was benefitting from that superb early-morning blank mind four times a day instead of just once.
More here – QUARTZ
PS: the cynic in me really wants to suggest that if cheating sleep for a year lead to a decision to become a journalist then sleep actually won….
Pilots have a strict sleep log.
Enough said I think.
If it was so successful why only for 1 year
In the full article he explains that he was the “everyman” cycle was broken for a week by a special event and that since he had achieved the goals he had set out to, he no longer had the motivation and drive to persist with it. This coupled with the benefits neurologically that have since come to light about sleep have made him decide not to unless for something very important and for a short term.
sorry, poor editing in that first line…
In the full article he explains that the “everyman” sleep cycle was broken for a week –
Motherhood with a wakeful baby proves that lack of sleep leads to breakdown. You need sleep that’s why nature made day & night.