Polyphasic Sleep and Its Potential Benefits
Ask anyone how much sleep you need every night, and more often than not, you will hear somebody tell you that 7-8 hours of sleep is appropriate. But some believe that you can change your sleep cycle to sleep less time and still be healthy and alert. Polyphasic sleep is considered to be a radical method of adapting your body to less sleep, but many people believe that it holds many benefits.
What is polyphasic sleeping and where did it come from?
Polyphasic sleep is a term referring to sleeping multiple times for short durations in a 24-hour period. The idea is that these naps, which you take three or more times a day, will allow you to have more awake time while continuing to feel refreshed.
The most popular and well-known polyphasic sleep schedule comes from Leonardo Da Vinci. Often called the “sleep of genius” or the “Da Vinci sleep cycle” it is believed that Leonardo Da Vinci pioneered polyphasic sleep by sleeping an average of two hours a day in 10-minute bursts. Another is the Uberman sleep cycle, a form of polyphasic sleep where you sleep in 20-30 minute bursts, generally every four hours.
What benefits can you receive from polyphasic sleep?
The most attractive benefit to polyphasic sleeping is the addition of time to your schedule. By dropping your sleeping time from eight hours to two, you add six hours of awake time. For those with busy schedules, this is a very tempting benefit.
Another benefit is the potential for lucid dreaming – a vivid form of dreaming where you may be able to control your actions. Those who have tried polyphasic sleeping also contend that sleeping problems such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and others disappear.
Please be aware that there have been no studies on the long-term effects of polyphasic sleep cycles. If you are interested in attempting polyphasic sleep, it is strongly recommended that you consult with your doctor for a professional opinion.
Disclaimer: Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements and products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease.
