Reading on a graveyard clock

Reading at the early hours of the morning can be highly challenging. One's body is conditioned for sleep at these times, so any activity that elicits rest states is usually difficult to sustain.

Previous attempts of reading at these times result in repeated lapses of microsleep, with virtually no noticeable transition from awake state to dream state. The transition would be only a few seconds long, and would end with me jolting myself into consciousness - only to lapse into another microsleep just moments later.

What I set out to do was find out how I could stay awake for 3 hours of reading (from 3am - 6am).

First Challenge:

How to stay alert when sleep is overdue.

On Easter Saturday night, I was staying at my aunty and uncle's elevated homestead overlooking the Waikato Plains. As I was transitioning to polyphasic sleeping (first night), I had to amuse myself for an entire night in isolation - away from my computer and other entertainment that I would usually entertain myself with. What I did bring with me was a book called "Emergence" by Steven Johnson. I told myself that I would finish at least half of the book before my 6am nap (about 100 pages worth).

How on earth was I going to do this? I was sitting in a cosy room with a lazy fire flickering in the background and mood lighting... this sort of environment was perfect for snuggling up and snoozing all night long...

So I sat back on the deep leather couch, and began to read.

Each time I felt myself losing concentration, I would lean forward onto my haunches. I found the simple change in posture cleared my brain and brightened my eyes.

Sure enough, I got through around 90 odd pages (including interludes for juggling and food/drink).


Next Challenge:

How to keep alert when heavily sleep deprived.

Ok, so this was quite something else. I could barely keep my eyes open following the 2:30am nap... yet I really wanted to read "Way of the Superior Man" by David Deida. This seemed like a ridiculous prospect given my state. Nonetheless, I set out to experiment.

I could tell that just sitting forwards would not keep me awake long. So I tried sitting on a ledge with my legs suspended in the air. It was an act of balance and weight management. This sort of position kept my mind focused and alert - which allowed me to read for some time.

I thought that perhaps now I could read whilst standing. No such chance! I quickly slipped into la-la land.

I found that I could stay alert during reading by holding myself in an active position (stretching, lifting, balance, and motion [to a lesser degree]).

Alarms and raw food

Right, I think I'm gonna do a wake-up rehearsal as suggested by PureDoxyk and Steve Pavlina... Once again I slept through my core sleep by 1 hour. This time I decided it would be best to 'reset' myself by continuing to sleep a full 8 hours (and wake at 6 am).

Basically I shall set my alarms for 5 mins, and practice getting up automatically and walk out of the room to wash my face. Then do some yoga stretches and juggling.

In other news, I have started introducing more raw foods into my diet. The last few days, instead of buying lollies at the dairy ($1 - $2), I bought a bag of kiwifruit ($1.50), avocados (2 for $2.50), and bananas (1 bunch @ $2.90). Much better for me, and actually more flavoursome than chocolate and sweets.

Alarms

Oversleeping through core!

So I've been fine with sleeping during naps, however I've overslept the core sleep (2:30am - 4:00am) three nights in a row. I slept until 6:30 or until the 7:30am nap reminder arrives. The first night I don't think I had my alarm turned on for that nap (new cellphone), however the 2nd and 3rd night (last night) I am sure the alarm was working. So what must have been happening is that I would turn off my alarm and not bother getting up... classic oversleeping!

This presents me with some options:

1. change the core sleep to a time when I'm less likely to oversleep: 6 - 7:30am or 10 - 11:30pm
2. set up multiple alarms - which I did during uberman schedule 2 years back
3. change where I have my core sleep to a less comfortable place or sleeping position
   
4. place alarms in a out of reach place - set up problem solving alarms etc.

I could do all of the above.

I am, however, pleased that I stayed up following oversleeping at 7am ish. This is an improvement on the 9 or 10am wakeup that plagued my daily life. I am also pleased that I can easily fall asleep for the naps, and have been dreaming through them - which suggests REM sleep.

Time to pull out the FURY!!!

Return to Polyphasic Sleeping Lifestyle!

I stopped polyphasic sleeping mainly because of unpredictable uni and work schedules. Also uberman conflicted with my social life. I lacked the determination to take an interlude out of a social affair for naps (peer pressure came into it also). My lecturers were also completely against me sleeping in university. It seemed society was completely against such ways of living. I left polyphasic sleeping for future investigation when my environment was more forgiving and I had a flexible and/or a well spaced schedule.

This has realised itself of late. I am actually quite amazed. It's nearly perfection. Not only that, I feel far more congruent with the logic and implications of such a lifestyle.

As I am now a third year (digital design) student, I have been allowed 24 hour access to the computer labs. This means that I can actually theoretically 'live' at university if needed. As the university is located in the city, I am able to head there after clubbing/partying and use the facilities. It is warm, safe, and silent. The tutors have changed their attitude to students staying in the labs overnight (security upgraded) and it is now encouraged that students do so if they wish.

Just acquired a job as a cycle courier, which is brilliant exercise (Auckland is built on 150 dormant volcanoes) and it gives me the motivation to rise early (8am - 10am daily shift).

Evening job doing waiting fits in nicely with the schedule.

University classes slot nicely into the schedule also.

Two years ago I was all over the place... I kinda did polyphasic sleeping out of a retaliation against society, I was a mismatcher with an instinct towards global harmony. My brain was scattered. I dove into the information age and became totally consumed by exploring human potential and personal development. I spent half my life looking for the weirdest and most challenging forms possible. I basically alienated myself from myself and others through having unconventional and extreme interests. I lived a life of opposition and contradiction.

This has changed. The scattered mind is collecting ever so rapidly. It feels like the rest of the world is doing the same. That is probably a delusion of my reality tunnel - either way, I prefer to think that it's happening like that.