I stumbled across something today... something that's caused me to decide to change the way I live. Many things have been leading up to this point, something which I'm likening to the perfect storm, but (hopefully) in a good way.
Gizmodo had an article about a "Sleep Suit" which is like a waffled cocoon suit that completely envelopes you. Picture a woman face down sleeping on her keyboard at work. Like being suspended in a pillowy substance that attempts not to suffocate you. Upon reading about it, its purpose was to afford anyone the freedom to participate in the Dymaxion Sleep regiment. What's the Dymaxion Sleep regiment. That interested me and is basically summarized as the following.
Buckminster Fuller hypothesized that people operated with two types of energy. The main, primary source of energy lasts typically around 6 hours of being awake. After that, energy reserves are called upon. He felt that if a person stopped for rest (sleep) after that six hours was up, one would need no more than 30 minutes of (quality) sleep to recharge the primary store.
He apparently pursued this lifestyle for 2 years with the following general observations
• He successfully slept for 2 hours per day.
• He felt more energetic in this Polyphasic lifestyle than his previous Monophasic (1 long sleep session per day) one.
• Challenges ensue trying to maintain this when society is geared completely around Monophasic lifestyles. His business relationships were the motivating force to go back to Monophasic sleep.
Additionally others have noted this about Buckminster's lifestyle during those two years.
• It was his wife that primarily wanted him to stop
• He periodically supplemented his 4 30 minute sessions with a nap if he felt he needed it.
This is all very intriguing to me. I personally am the type of person that would maximize as much productive time as I could. This is for a lot of reasons. I don't think I'm incredibly productive now... perhaps that's my lack of addressing my ADD with medication... perhaps it's not being driven to keep a schedule... perhaps it's poor, erratic sleep... perhaps it's a poor diet... perhaps it's a lack of exercise...
It's probably all of those. Some are easily fixed. Some are not... Some fall victim to my untreated ADD at the present. All are problems I've wanted to resolve.
I've poorly attempted to resolve them... but I'm going to test a new theory. I think by focusing on one thing, and not addressing other things, I sabotage myself. For instance, I'd LIKE to exercise more, but a poor sleeping schedule means I wake up late, and then won't/don't take the time to exercise. Once I'm up and out of the loft, I won't/don't take the time in the middle of the day to pause and go back to the loft to do it. Once evening rolls around, I'm eating the first substantial meal of my day and my body reacts with a food coma (as I'm experiencing at the present moment). That reduces my energy and drive to do anything but zombie around until some late, late hour.
Rinse and repeat.
It's pushed me into a further state of procrastination. I'm fat and I'm not hitting my goals.
Recently I've adopted new eating habits. Fast food is out (as of December 22 of last year). The kitchen has been redone here and is MUCH more cooking friendly. Alton Brown has introduced me to the concept of pouch cooking in the microwave with enormous benefit. In addition, recognizing that I can't ONLY do that, I purchased a slow cooker (re: crock pot) and a rice cooker/vegetable steamer. Eating needs to be easy, quick, and cheap for me to avoid the lure of McDonalds.
So far, so good.
I know the dangers of trying to change too much at one time, and I'm not guaranteeing that this will be a total success, but after reading about the Dymaxion Sleep system and thinking about the other issues in my life, I'm going to do my best to create the following schedule.
11:30 a/p; 5:30 a/p – Sleep (30 mins).
12:00 a/p; 6:00 a*/p – Eat and energy supplement (15-30 mins) or exercise (30 mins) *with a multi-vitamin
12:30 a/p; 6:30 a/p – Eat and energy supplement (15-30 mins) or exercise (30 mins) (obviously the opposite of above)
This basically means I'll be eating/sleeping/exercising about 5-6 hours in a total day. For all of it. That leaves an amazing 18-19 hours of (hopefully) productive waking hours.
I have some things in my favor.
• I have a lifestyle and job that will permit this. I sleep where I work and I don't have to answer to a boss in a formal work setting. I'm sure that's a huge problem for most people that would consider an undertaking like this.
• I've had for years, and of course not used, an electronic sleep aid called pzizz. It generated a never repetitive series of sound waves that are engineered to create faster, deeper sleep. How convenient that there is a pzizz app I have on my iPhone. How further convenient that I can tell it I need a 30 minute program.
• I'm not a really picky sleeper. I don't need the stars to align to generally fall asleep.
• I have a serious desire to lose weight.
• I have a new regiment of energy supplements that I've been wanting to test in (some) replacement of my Adderall.
I have some things decidedly NOT in my favor.
• ADD will NOT be an asset here.
• I've had trouble convincing myself to get out of bed. Setting my own schedule and goals with no one to answer to does not help this. It had been a major setback to the concept of exercising. It will be the single biggest hurdle to success with the above routine. Ugh. I wish I had help here.
• Being fat robs you of energy. It will make success here more difficult.
So here's the timing. It really just happened this way, but I'm sure a horde of psychologists would be scribbling away with differing opinions.
I want to start as soon as possible, yet I have an important bridal show Sunday the 17th. THE 17th. I refuse to compromise the potential effectiveness of that show, yet having another show on the 24th means I need to start ASAP after this Sundays show. Brides don't (I'm guessing) relate to or even LIKE zombies. I best not be one. Yea... so I'm starting this on my 40th birthday on the nose. Sounds desperate. It was coincidence. I'm not phased by 40, and as I can't yet afford a Ferrari, I've decided this is a poor time to start a mid-life crisis.
On the eating front... all small to medium sized, home cooked meals... or raw... or fruit (which is raw)... I've been trying to do the five small meals a day... but I haven't done it. Hard to get that on a schedule without two important things... preparation and alarms.
So that's why I think I'm better off trying to do ALL this at one time. 4 alarms (8 really... 4 to sleep, 4 to wake). Couple the short exercise and eating and I'm accomplishing all the above goals. And I can tailor this as I move into it. Maybe 4 meals with 2 to 4 snacks in the middle. I'll have to see what works. The key is NO big meals.
Hesitations/Concerns
1. Worried about getting up. Have yet to find a method that motivates a mind I feel I have little control over when it's waking up.
2. This requires fairly good organization. I can't eat food that's not here. Forces relapses into old, poor eating habits. How is my organization going to further suffer as I start this. The key is just getting through the adaptation period.
3. I wish I had someone to do this with. Being kicked out of bed would be very helpful. I must find internal motivation.
I'm going to also do the following: Blog my results/thoughts. In the beginning I want to start each six hour period with blog comments. Maybe blog along the way. I feel like Jeckyll. I'm tracking 8 things...
Sleep/Fatigue
Weight
Energy level (from the supplements)
Hunger
Mood
Productivity
Focus
Memory
Some of these are obviously related. I don't care really. They are all important metrics in my life and it will help ME to focus on changes and observations in all these areas based on what I'm doing.
Anyway... the next several days are preparation. If I can create a system that helps me wake up and get moving, I further my chance of success. I'll put water and the supplements by my bed so I can reach over and take them. I'm cleaning the loft (it needs it and I think will help my state of mind).
Good luck Petah. Hopefully this works before you break your brain.
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