Day 15 - The Change

It's been a while since my last post - sorry about that. Things got messy and then [insert semi-relevant but ultimately lame excuse here]. I do have interesting news however. After struggling manfully to stick to the Uberman cycle (and being constantly foiled by real life) I decided it was time to be realistic. I just couldn't take the naps at the prescribed times every day, and when I didn't I got mauled. It wasn't pretty, nor was it safe. Something had to change. I came to the conclusion that everyday, normal monophasic sleep - still wasn't for me. I don't tend to give up that easily, especially not when there are other options. And I've been enjoying the extra time I've had (when adequate naps have enabled me to appreciate it). I wasn't about to chuck that away just yet. You see, Uberman is only one of three major polyphasic sleep cycles. It's the one that gives you the most extra time, but it's also the most inflexible (and the most punishing, should you bend the rules). The Everyman and Dymaxion cycles offer a valid alternative. I won't go into how Dymaxion works (I'm not a fan of the concept, and if you want to know more there's plenty of info on the net) but I'll take a sentence or two to explain the Everyman cycle - my current sleep cycle. The Everyman cycle revolves around the idea that you get a three hour core sleep each day - supplemented by three evenly spaced 20 min naps. Practically how that works for me is that I sleep from about 2am to 5am. Then take a nap before work, a nap after work, and a nap two hours or so before the core sleep. Core, pre-work, post-work, and pre-core. Or predub, pdub, and pc naps as I've come to think of them. Sleep times are far more flexible and I have much more energy than before. Uberman works, but you must be fanatical about keeping to schedule or it'll eat your brains for breakfast. This pattern is not such a cruel master. Previously I seriously doubted that I would practically be able to stick to polyphasic sleep for more than three / four weeks. Now I don't really see any reason why I should stop. I'm very excited about the Everyman cycle and am relishing the benefits already. Long live polyphasic diversity!