Polysleep is a method of getting a good night’s sleep without getting the standard 6-8 hours of sleep. This method was said to have been used by Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Albert Einstein. And although it is also used by soldiers, it is not a method for extreme situations, but it can be a way to get enough sleep. In that case, can this method be used regularly? The opinions of researchers are divided. Many people suffer from insufficient sleep, difficulty falling asleep at night and the need for naps during the day. Polyphasic sleep may be a good alternative in this case to deal with the uncomfortable problem. Because, as we well know, sleep is important for the proper functioning of a person during the day.
Polyphasic sleep what is it?
Polyphasic sleep, or polyphasic sleep, is a method that involves getting enough sleep by taking short naps throughout the day. The total sum of multiple but short naps should be about 2 hours and divided evenly throughout the day. This is supposed to give the effect of getting a full night’s sleep by frequently resting the mind, which overstimulated causes us to feel tired. The multiplicity of naps is supposed to give frequent rest, leading to a feeling of full sleep – exactly what we are able to give ourselves after a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It is worth mentioning that polyphasic sleep is by no means a modern discovery. Given the fact of legends related to da Vinci’s and Napoleon’s way of sleeping, this way of sleeping was used by our ancestors. Moreover, we can observe polyphasic sleep in animals, including our domestic dogs and cats, among others.
Standard sleep
Standard sleep, consists of two phases: NREM and REM.
- REM phase – this is the phase in which sleep most often occurs. It is characterized by accelerated eye movement, followed by complete muscle relaxation.
- NREM phase – is characterized by a lack of eye movements. It lasts about 90 minutes and has four stages:
- I stage – decreased consciousness, increasing the frequency of waves from alpha to theta.
- II stage – lack of response to external stimuli, eye movements slow down, nevertheless in this stage we can still wake up more easily.
- III stage – brain wave frequencies tune to the delta phase. This is a state of deep sleep.
- IV stage – slow-wave sleep, transition to REM phase and dreaming. In people who sleepwalk, such activity may occur in this phase.
Types of polyphasic sleep
Polyphasic sleep comes in several variants assuming both sleep at night and in shorter modes during the day.
- Biphasic sleep – this mode consists of four and a half hours of sleep at night and naps of up to an hour and a half during the day.
- Everyman – in this case we sleep about three hours at night, while during the day we take three naps of twenty to thirty minutes each. This gives us a total of five hours of sleep.
- Uberman – or six-phase sleep. It consists of twenty-minute naps that take place every four hours. Which, after applying the entire technique, gives us a total of two hours of sleep per day.
- Dymaxion – or four-phase sleep. The sum of naps is also supposed to give us the opportunity to sleep after only two hours. In this concept, we take four naps of twenty minutes each, spaced six hours apart.
Polyphasic sleep advantages and disadvantages
Polyphasic sleep undoubtedly has its advantages, it is a good alternative for those who have difficulty sleeping, and it is also conducive to busy people. However, it has its disadvantages, and among them is the impact on health, when using this technique alone.
Polyphasic sleep advantages
Advantages, or rather, arguments for the use of polyphasic sleep:
- Laboratory studies have proven that polyphasic sleep actually increases efficiency and well-being during the day.
- It is feasible for people who cannot or do not need to use 8 hours of sleep at night due to their occupation.
- It is an option for those who are free to fall asleep in a matter of moments.
- An alternative for those who cannot sleep at night, suffer from insomnia, and the need for sleep increases during the day.
- Both children and elderly people sleep according to the different phases of polyphasic sleep, an argument for its proponents to use this method.
Polyphasic sleep disadvantages
Polyphasic sleep is still being studied, and the results are not conclusive. However, some disadvantages of this technique have been observed.
- Adaptation to polyphasic sleep can be so difficult for some people that it can take up to two weeks for the body to adjust to the change.
- Many researchers say that healthy polyphasic sleep should last a total of eight hours.
- Using this method for many months, can affect health. When feelings of discomfort, fatigue, lack of concentration appear, stop using this method and focus on uninterrupted eight-hour sleep.
- When using this method, it is worthwhile to ensure relaxation, a healthy diet, and enough exercise.
Polyphasic sleep is feasible for a longer period of time. However, like any non-standard method affecting the body, it should be implemented with common sense. It is worth observing your body and not overloading it if there are clear signs that this method is not beneficial to you.
Is polyphasic sleep healthy?
Long, continued sleep is something our body requires in order to function properly. When we sleep, our brain goes through different phases of sleep. The REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase is one of these phases and is essential for mental and physical health. If someone sleeps in short cycles, without giving their body time to go through the REM phase, it can lead to health problems such as insomnia, stress and memory problems. Polyphasic sleep is a type of short sleep that involves sleeping in several short cycles throughout the night. It is a popular method of dreaming among people who have difficulty with regular long sleep.
Some people believe that polyphasic sleep is healthy because it allows us to dream in our body’s natural cycles. Others believe that short sleep cycles are unhealthy and can lead to health problems. Scientists aren’t sure whether polyphasic sleep is healthy, as there aren’t enough studies to determine this. However, it is known that short sleep cycles can be harmful to mental and physical health. Therefore, if you have sleep problems, consult a doctor or psychologist for help.
How to sleep Polyphasically?
Polyphasic sleep methods are otherwise known as light sleep methods, which allow you to reduce the amount of time you spend in bed. Light sleep is a state between complete sleep and wakefulness. It can be achieved by using various techniques, such as:
– breathing through the nose
– using a comfortable pillow
– applying body cream
– using white noise or other calming sounds
– avoiding light
– using relaxation techniques such as stretching or massage
– drinking warm herbal tea
Breathing through the nose is one of the most important techniques for polyphasic sleep. It can reduce the amount of time spent in bed by about 30%. This is especially important for people who have sleep problems.
Remember to sleep comfortably. A comfortable pillow and mattress are essential. You should not sleep on a hard surface, as this can cause back pain. If you have trouble falling asleep, you can try using a body cream. The cream helps relax your body and so you can fall asleep more easily. White noise or other calming sounds help reduce stress and help you relax.
Avoiding light also helps reduce stress and helps you relax. Therefore, it is important to sleep in a dark room. Relaxation techniques, such as stretching or massage, help reduce tension and stress. Drinking warm tea or coffee also helps you relax and helps you fall asleep.
Polyphasic sleep calculator – or how to count polyphasic sleep
Polyphasic sleep is sleep that consists of several phases. Calculating polyphasic sleep is easy if you know how many sleep phases your type has. There are three types of polyphasic sleep:
1. polyphasic sleep with three phases
2. polyphasic sleep with four phases
3. polyphasic sleep with five phases
In a typical polyphasic sleep with three phases, the sleep phases last about 90 minutes. The sleep phases are as follows: the REM phase, the NREM 1 phase and the NREM 2 phase. The REM phase is the phase of sleep in which explosive sleep and dreaming occur. NREM phase 1 is the phase of sleep in which you can move but not dream. NREM phase 2 is the phase of sleep in which you can dream, but are not conscious of dreaming.
A typical polyphasic sleep with four phases consists of REM phase, NREM phase 1, NREM phase 2 and NREM phase 3. NREM phase 3 is the phase of sleep in which you are completely asleep. NREM phase 3 is the deepest phase of sleep and lasts about 20-40 minutes.
A typical polyphasic sleep with five phases consists of REM phase, NREM phase 1, NREM phase 2, NREM phase 3 and NREM phase 4. NREM phase 4 is the phase of sleep in which you are completely asleep and difficult to wake up. The NREM 4 phase lasts about 5-10 minutes.
To calculate how long your type of polyphasic sleep lasts, divide the total sleep time by the number of sleep phases. For example, if you sleep for 8 hours and have a typical polyphasic sleep with three phases, your polyphasic sleep lasts about 2.7 hours. If you sleep for 8 hours and have a typical polyphasic sleep with four phases, your polyphasic sleep lasts about 2 hours. If you sleep for 8 hours and have a typical polyphasic sleep with five phases, your polyphasic sleep lasts about 1.6 hours.
See also: 4 tips on how to buy a good bed