Thread: Starting the Dymaxion Sleep Schedule

Hi, just stumbled upon this thread from Google.

I've just started the everyman schedule, 4.5 hours at night and 2x20 minute naps. A few things I thought I'd mention:

-From what I've read about PPS, 20 minute naps, once adapted to, are as effective, if not more effective than 30 minute naps.
-The body takes around 21 days to adapt to a new habit, whether it be a drug dependence, or sleeping pattern, or whatever.
-A combination of nap scheduling (to get the body used to sleeping at that time) and sleep deprivation enables one to achieve true PPS napping, i.e. don't make up for naps/sleeps where you "didnt fall asleep".

Thanks for the read, 'twas interesting!

Originally Posted by dat

Hi, just stumbled upon this thread from Google.

I've just started the everyman schedule, 4.5 hours at night and 2x20 minute naps. A few things I thought I'd mention:

-From what I've read about PPS, 20 minute naps, once adapted to, are as effective, if not more effective than 30 minute naps.
-The body takes around 21 days to adapt to a new habit, whether it be a drug dependence, or sleeping pattern, or whatever.
-A combination of nap scheduling (to get the body used to sleeping at that time) and sleep deprivation enables one to achieve true PPS napping, i.e. don't make up for naps/sleeps where you "didnt fall asleep".

Thanks for the read, 'twas interesting!

Hi, thanks for posting!

As I found out, 20 minute naps definitely work better than 30, at least for Uberman. The reason I tried 30 minutes in the first place was because I was starting with closer together naps (every 4 hours) then gradually stretching them out to be a true Dymaxion sleep schedule (every 6 hours) and I thought it would be easier for the body to adjust if I kept the amount of time for each nap consistent.

I think you're right about the scheduling itself being important to get the body adjusted. Probably the biggest mistake I made was all the extra naps I added. The opposite of the carefully avoided mistake of missing naps The oversleeping was the other problem...but that's a little harder to figure out. It seems more like an indicator of how well the body is adjusting than something which can be controlled directly. (Although as jombo22 and others have mentioned, there are ways to make it easier to wake up).

Good luck with the Everyman schedule!

Wow you came back. I thought you've given up on the whole idea.

Originally Posted by Arutad

Wow you came back. I thought you've given up on the whole idea.

Yeah, the thread came back to life, lol. I definitely haven't given up on the idea of a polyphasic sleep schedule, although like I said, I might do Everyman instead of Dymaxion next time (I'm thinking of a 3 hour core sleep plus three 20 minute naps). My next attempt won't be for another three months, though.

I just started experimenting with polyphasic sleep and I enjoyed reading your posts. I am not sticking so much to strict schedules like Uberman or Dymaxion at this point, just trying to get my body used to shorter core sleep and regular naps.

I have found though that like you I am eating healthier in the short periods (4-6 hours) between naps and also finding it easier to hit my daily water quota. Mentally, I usually feel pretty refreshed after each nap and have no problem staying awake until the next one. I have always had a hard time falling asleep and lately (before I started the napping and shorter core sleep), it has been really bad.

I find that I am falling asleep quicker now, in the naps and core, and that I am getting better at retaining waking consciousness while I transition from being awake to sleeping. Also seeing a lot more hypnagogic imagery (especially during the first part of the naps) and have had really vivid and long dreams during core sleep.

During naps I can always tell when I am about to fall asleep because my inner dialogue is interrupted by "sounds" that aren't really there or dream conversations that seem to be going on just behind the veil of sleep. Or I will think something really weird, illogical and totally unrelated to whatever I had just been thinking about and I know I am in the beginning stages of my sleep.

I really want to do the dymaxion sleep cycle! I saw it and pretty much wanted it for the same reasons you did.

The only 2 that where possible for me where everyman and dymaxion because of the longer amounts of time awake. I have a few questions about the Dymaxion cycle though. First does the awake times have to be 5.5 hours or could you shift one to 6.5 and another to 4.5? Just so u can prolong it to fit your schedule? Im just wondering on the flexability of that. Also i was told that for the Dymaxion naps you only had the lee way of +/- 15 mins, is this true? Or is it only true for the first 21 days?

I am currently on the everyman cycle, I am 4 days in. I feel that I am adjusting ridiculously fast compared to others from what i have read. I am doing the everyman 3 cycle. So i get 4 hours of sleep a day. I would love to cut that down by 2 and be on the dymaxion but I am cautious about the fact if i miss 1 on dymaxion im fucked.

I will probably start the Dymaxion at the end of first semester of uni. To your knowledge what would u say the best times to sleep are to have the least interuptions from sleep in a day. I liked the Idea of yours but think this could be better 0100 - 0130 then 0700 - 0730 then 1300 - 1330 then 1900 - 1930 can u see any imediate problems with this pattern?.