Polyphasic sleep, a term coined by early 20th-century psychologist J.S. Szymanski,[1] refers to the practice of sleeping multiple times in a 24-hour period—usually more than two, in contrast to biphasic sleep (twice per day) or monophasic sleep (once per day). It does not imply any particular sleep schedule. The circadian rhythm disorder known as irregular sleep-wake syndrome is an example of polyphasic sleep in humans. Polyphasic sleep is common in many animals, and is believed to be the ancestral sleep state.[2] The term polyphasic sleep is also used by an online community that experiments with alternative sleeping schedules to achieve more time awake each day.
Name Total sleeping time MethodMonophasic ≈ 8.0 h (8 hours major sleep episode.)
Biphasic ≈ 6.3 h (6 hours major sleep episode and one 20 minute power nap).
Biphasic ≈ 6 h (4.5 hours major sleep episode and one 90 minute nap.)
Everyman ≈ 5.2 h (4.5 hours major sleep episode and two 20-minute power naps.)
Everyman ≈ 4 h (3 hours major sleep episode and three 20-minute power naps.)
Everyman ≈ 3 h (1.5 hours major sleep episode and four to five twenty-minute power naps.)
Dymaxion 2 h (Four 30-minute naps (every 6 hours).)
Uberman ≈ 2 h (Six 20-minute naps (every 4 hours).)
Warnings
I.There is little scientific research into polyphasic sleep and most information about it comes from independent researchers without peer review.II.DO NOT OVERSLEEP, as it will fatigue you for at least the duration of 2 naps.
III.Do not skip naps, as it will also tire you.
IV .Carefully observe your diet and note foods which invigorate or fatigue. Poly sleep may cause food sensitivity.
V. Do not ingest caffeine, as stimulants interfere with the quality of natural sleep: living on 4 hours of sleep a day takes nothing if not quality.
VI . DO NOT attempt this method if you have any type of a diagnosed epileptic disorder. Insufficient rest may cause discomfort/attacks.
VII. It is not fully known if there are physical or psychological risks involved with this procedure. However, there are books written on the subject that state that it is not unhealthy, if it is done for 6 months, which is as far as the experiments go. If you perform this procedure for more than 6 months, you are moving into uncharted waters.
