Do you think this sleep schedule is effective?

[_Joseph_]

I recently began attempting the everyman schedule (last Thurs. night) and my schedule's like this: 3 hr. core: 12 am - 3 am. 1st nap: 5 am. 2nd nap: 5 pm. 3rd nap: 10 pm. The thing is, after my 1st nap -- which I can't ever seem to fall asleep in -- I really crash by noon. Is this a problem w/ the adjustment period or is it something wrong w/ my sched.? Feel free to help me w/ any tweaking. P.S. - Love the site. First post!

[Sara]

For as far as I know, you should divide the naps as equally as possible. Having naps 2 hours before and after your core and staying awake for 12 hours after your first nap sounds not 'healthy'. Of course you crash by noon, since you've been awake for over 6 hours by then. Try to schedule your naps in a way you're never awake for more than say 8 hours in a row.

[_Joseph_]

Well, I just finished my 1st nap. Couldn't fall asleep again. Sara, thanks for the input. Perhaps you're right, but I thought that the everyman was supposed to be flexible. Maybe this schedule is too "flexible"? I really can't afford to catch a nap during the late mornings/early afternoons, though. I'm really having 2nd thoughts about this whole thing. And w/ baseball season rolling around, I might just abandon this. BUT... no. I promised myself I would see this through. Hopefully my body will adjust.

[_Joseph_]

Hm, another question. I've heard of polyphasic sleep not being too good for younger people, so what's the cut-off age? When is it "acceptable"?

[Sara]

I don't know anything about a good age to sleep polyphasic. But since younger people need more sleep, this doesn't mean they can't be polyphasic. Babies also sleep polyphasic but many more hours than an adult on a 'standard' Everyman schedule. One thing that came to mind: the period between the core sleep and first nap is usually the best to 'extend' in time. But even then, staying awake for 12 hours is LONG. PS: Puredoxyk has almost finished her book on polyphasic sleeping, you might find all info you need in her book.

[_Joseph_]

Yeah definitely. I'm gonna check that book out. You know, it's been just over a week now, and although I'm still tired in the afternoon, I no longer "crash" like I did. Hopefully this will continue to be the case. I must be getting more REM sleep. Heh, I can remember all through the 1st week, I kept on saying to myself, "Why are you doing this to yourself?" or "You know, this isn't worth it." and "Just go to sleep, damn it." Funny how the mind operates, huh? I almost gave up a few times there.

[_Joseph_]

Of course, I'm getting way ahead of myself. It's only been a week... I need to stop oversleeping too. That ugly demon's been rearing it's head a bit too much lately.

[_Joseph_]

I just overslept again. I woke up roughly 5 minutes ago, and overslept more than 2 hours and 30 minutes. Damn it, I feel crappy (physically and mentally). Like I said, this has been going on waaay too much lately. I don't even remember hearing my alarm go off either... I'm so disappointed in myself for the kind of crap that's been going on lately...

[StephenT]

That schedule will suck. Because you have a nap two hours after your core, it might be very hard to get to sleep, and if you miss it, then you can't take it later because you should be very rigid in sleep times during adaptation. Then the 12 hour gap between naps will suck very bad, especially if you've missed the first nap.