Day 2

Awoke naturally (not via the alarm clock) at 8:30am, 4 hours after falling asleep. Slept well; have internal "vibrations" like I didn't get enough sleep. That is to be expected - this is my first really low-sleep night. Was alert enough to study for a while, then became drowsy at 10:30am. Had a 20-minute nap and slept very deeply; I felt like I wasn't "there" or in fact, anywhere. When the alarm went off my brain heard it but couldn't process it; I felt as if it shouldn't go off now or ever. I collected my wits and realized it was only a nap. Arose and after a couple of minutes felt fine. Made some eggs and a cup of tea to keep the caffeine headaches away.

It's now 12 and I am feeling fine. Time to study again.

2:30pm and sleepy - studying will do that. Had a 20-minute nap - did not sleep as easily or as deeply, but it still helped.

I may sleep more the first few days, but my idea is to reduce the length of time of my core sleep each day and to learn to take efficient 20-minute naps and get my body used to it. I theorize that napping more often during the day at first than is normally prescribed for the Everyman schedule should keep reducing my need for core, and make the transition easier because I anticipate not be often tired, nor feeling sleep-deprived. The goal is to make the transition smooth, healthy, and relatively painless. I theorize that if one's body is adaptable to this sleep schedule and it is truly healthier, there should be a way for one's body to convert and adapt to it without trauma such as I read about in other polyphasic diaries.

It's 5pm and I am feeling great. I am as alert as I usually am at this time of day but normally by now I've had a couple of energy drinks and at least 1500 mg of guarana and 1000 mg of yerba matte. Today I haven't had any of those, only a cup of tea to ward off the effects of caffeine withdrawal, and that has worked like a charm; no headache, no neck ache.

I napped around 8 for 20 minutes. Not deep, was awake for what seemed like the first 10 minutes of it. This may be due to the presence of my SO napping next to me and snoring and moving a little.

Was alert enough afterward, but not crisp like earlier today.

Left for the gym for weight training at 9:45pm. Tried to nap unsuccescully in the truck (as a passenger) along the way because I felt tired. However, the pause was refreshing, so again it seems even unsuccessful naps are helpful.

My workout was surprising, although I had a little less stamina, I had all of my strength, and performed my usual routine of 50/60 lb prone leg curls to warm up, then 200/220 lb squats and 435/470lb leg presses. I'm all of only 150lbs myself, so I consider it significant to be able to perform a powerlifting routine on only 4 hours of sleep. I should mention that I have tried to do so once before and abandoned the routine mid-way. I hope to be able to keep my weights up as I progress in this, my polyphasic sleep experiment.

The time is now 1:05am. Normally by this time, with only 4 hours of sleep and having spent an hour standing around while my SO spends over an hour shopping for groceries, I would be very grumpy and moody and would probably have instigated an argument by now. Surpised with myself that I am calmly waiting nearby, spending each precious moment easily studying my courseware on my iPhone, I decided to break from studying to blog this entry to document this remarkable fact. Perhaps it is due to the lack of caffiene, perhaps due to my naps, and in part I am certain due to the knowledge that I am not losing sleep, and will have plenty more time at home after my core nap,I am focused, relaxed and VERY much less stressed than usual. In fact I had no idea how stressed I was until this moment. This is a huge unexpected benefit.

I should also mention my focus better - a surprising fact at this point in my attempt at sleeping less, which is opposite to other experiences I have read, perhaps because I am easing into it and napping when I am tired instead of trying to force my body into a completely foriegn pattern overnight.

The shopping excursion pushed past my limit by about an hour - had I been at home I would have napped at about 1am. My brain was fried, I was on auto-pilot, expending minimal energy until I got home. But in retrospect, I should have gone out to the vehicle and had a nap in the middle of the shopping trip. Why didn't I think of that? I guess I must be trained that I must sleep at home in a bed. I will have to re-train my thinking - when I am tired I will look for a place to nap wherever I may be - a bench, my car, an individual bathroom with a lockable door? LOL I also should have had a quick snack or a meal - I had worked out hard, then went shopping for a couple of hours without eating or napping - I think that was an extreme combination.

Having said that, even though I felt I should eat and go to bed, I napped immediately upon my return home at about 2:45am, then ate and browsed the web, then went to bed at 4am-ish. I contemplated eating first, but thought it more in keeping with the program to nap first because I had pushed my limits at the grocery store.