How do you position yourself to only sleep 2-4 hours?

[Coho]

Life has been too busy these days. I'm having less and less sleep with deadlines and all, mostly academic. My dad was in 'Nam and he told that most soldiers were taught to sleep in the "sitting under the coconut tree" position so they don't doze off when enemies approach. So I tried this, but I am always finding myself lying on the bed the next morning, and missed my deadlines. I appreciate any help. This was what my father recommended:

Kind of like sitting up, leaning against something. Sorry these guys are not sleeping.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Coho

Life has been too busy these days. I'm having less and less sleep with deadlines and all, mostly academic. My dad was in 'Nam and he told that most soldiers were taught to sleep in the "sitting under the coconut tree" position so they don't doze off when enemies approach. So I tried this, but I am always finding myself lying on the bed the next morning, and missed my deadlines. I appreciate any help. This was what my father recommended:

...


Leaning against something erect, except your hands are placed at the front (while no guns are pointed at you).


LOL I can offer no assistance re: the question, but couldn't you have found a picture that illustrated what you want better than this?

 

[Dewey]

Most people sleep in cycles that are pretty regular. Figure out the length of your usual first cycle and set an alarm clock. When I was still in school and went weeks at a time not sleeping much five or six nights per week, I figured out that I could set an alarm to go off in 3 1/2 hours. It would catch me a (relatively) near-awake state and I'd pop up refreshed. But if I set the alarm for 4 hours even, or 5 hours, I'd be much, much more likely to sleep through it. There are fancy terms and science to explain this. I think. I could sleep 3 1/2 or about 7 hours. If I tried to get up at any point between, I'd sleep 10.

It also helps to drink a lot of water before you go to sleep.

And I would sleep in whatever position is most comfortable to you. You're a student (or an academic), not a soldier. Sleep in peace.

 

[Rome]

^Thats the ticket. Full REM cycle is about 45mins. You want to time yourself to wake up at the end of the cycle not at any point in it.

 

[j]

There are alarm clocks that can be set to do this for you. They detect your sleep cycle and wake you up at the best time within a window you set so that you aren't awoken out of a deep sleep.

At one point I was getting like 3.5-4 hours a night and then going home after school and getting another 3.5 or so, and I felt fine, because I was getting enough sleep cycles and not waking up at the wrong times.

 

[texas_jack]

This is in very bad taste.

 

[Coho]

I edited my post. I apologize if that offended anyone. I was just just lazy searching for a pic.

Originally Posted by texas_jack

This is in very bad taste.

 

[Huntsman]

Since you aren't worried (I hope!) about being killed, sleep how you are most comfort to get the greatest benefit from the sleep. Use alarm clocks as necessary to wake you up. During my undergrad, I used Task Scheduler to play really loud music to wake me, changing the songs every few days or I'd get used to them.

And remember, one day you'll look back at this time and reflect...on how much it sucked.

Best,
Huntsman

 

[dtmt]

When I was in this situation, I always slept on the floor. This works well because usually a rug is just comfortable enough to fall asleep on, but not comfortable enough to stay asleep for more than a few hours, even if you're really tired.

 

[visionology]

When I was in college during my 3D finals I would routinely be up sometimes for over a day straight and many days especially during finals with 2-4 hrs sleep. We would be finishing projects at home, rendering at school, and going back and forth between buildings. Many slept on the floor against a wall, some slept on their desks. I tried to not go into bed because I knew I wouldn't get up.

I've found that I am much more awake on 4hrs of sleep than with 8+, perhaps it is because after I get into a deep sleep I am more groggy when I wake. I usually test this when I have an early flight (say 6am) and I go to sleep at 10pm and wake up at 2am to get ready and leave.

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by dtmt

When I was in this situation, I always slept on the floor. This works well because usually a rug is just comfortable enough to fall asleep on, but not comfortable enough to stay asleep for more than a few hours, even if you're really tired.

Damn, I used to do that on nights before finals when I was on;y going to sleep an hour or two and couldn't risk missing the alarm. That was miserable.

 

[Lucky Strike]

Originally Posted by dtmt

When I was in this situation, I always slept on the floor. This works well because usually a rug is just comfortable enough to fall asleep on, but not comfortable enough to stay asleep for more than a few hours, even if you're really tired.
I did that when finishing my exams too. Sucks. Works.

 

[Kent Wang]

Originally Posted by j

There are alarm clocks that can be set to do this for you. They detect your sleep cycle and wake you up at the best time within a window you set so that you aren't awoken out of a deep sleep.
How does the alarm clock detect your sleep cycle? Do you have to strap some sensor to yourself? I am interested in purchasing something like this. I used to sleep in a recliner in my first year at university and I found that effective at sleeping for only short periods. Now I no longer live with people that own recliners.

 

[j]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

How does the alarm clock detect your sleep cycle? Do you have to strap some sensor to yourself? I am interested in purchasing something like this. I used to sleep in a recliner in my first year at university and I found that effective at sleeping for only short periods. Now I no longer live with people that own recliners.
Yes, it has a sensor in a terry cloth wrist band.

http://www.axbo.com/axbo/CMS/CMS.aspx?Language=E&Mode=0

 

[dtmt]

Originally Posted by j

Yes, it has a sensor in a terry cloth wrist band. http://www.axbo.com/axbo/CMS/CMS.aspx?Language=E&Mode=0
Do you actually own one of these? It seems pretty cool if it actually works, but I'm not real thrilled about the idea of blowing ~$300 on some newfangled electronics without being able to try it out... Also, this alarm clock seems interesting too, but it might get old pretty quickly: http://www.nandahome.com/products/clocky/index.php