No Sleep til freedom
Right now, -20 looks pretty inviting.
As I was finishing writing last night, our daughter woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. She probably had a bad dream or something and then realised that her room is a sauna. It took about three hours to get her back to sleep and that meant, she would be up in another two hours which is all the sleep I got.
Sleep is a funny thing as there are obviously recommendations about how much is needed but, like all recommendations, the reality is a bit different. People need varying amounts of sleep and the way they perform on too little, too much or just enough can swing quite heavily. I have always wondered how much of it is programmed into us.
I find that in Finland people have clothing for every variation of weather conditions, clothes that are purposed for quite narrow degree ranges. When it is 0 it is this jacket, -5 another, +5 another. If it is raining or sunny, another set is required. It is a type of luxury isn't it? What I notice though is people who do this are much more sensitive to the cold or the heat and their body doesn't cope well when the clothes worn don't fit the conditions.
I see sleep as somewhat the same. Often parents take the "Shhh, the baby is sleeping" approach and then wonder why they wake up to every slight noise. Again, this seems an experience issue in Finland as the homes are generally very quiet because of double, triple and quadruple glazed windows that keep the sounds of the outside, outside.
When it comes to the amount of sleep an individual requires, I think this too is training and when there is an hour less than normal, it is very noticeable in some people as their performance drops significantly. There have been tests shown that driving tired is akin to driving somewhat drunk and in some cases, worse. But, what about with training?
There are obviously limits to all things but I think that most people oversleep thinking that they are doing their body a service when in fact, they are reducing their capabilities. Most of us have been trained to sleep in an industrial revolution cycle, meaning that we sleep to fit in with work schedules; one large sleep shift. But in my experience, as I have changed from this to a shorter amount of sleep and a nap caught here or there, I have become much more productive and, I require less sleep in total.
The problem of course is that society hasn't been set up to accommodate this kind of sleep rhythm however, that is changing. For example, writing on Steem has released me from the 9 to 5 type of industrial limitation and this is further enhanced by the fact that it is global. This means that I am free to write when I choose and sleep when I choose. Well, I still have a 'real' job with my company where normal working hours are very much enforced by common practice but, the idea is there.
As more and more people break away from the traditional working cycles, I predict that their sleeping rhythms will follow suit and if they are paying attention, they could find that they develop a pattern that is much more useful to them and, much healthier for their position. Rather than being set into the mould, they are able to fashion their own.
This is a type of freedom that many people do not consider and even though they might say things like, "I can work when I want", the implications of that may mean that the when they want could be more than before and, the hours they spend doing it more productive than before.
It is never great to be forced to work when very tired however, at times it is necessary and at those times, it is beneficial to be one of those who are more flexible with skills less affected by the variation in sleep time. It is perhaps reminiscent of adaptability to change as an indicator of intelligence. It is also similar to the idea of people needing to feel good to be able to work.
As I see it, the more conditions we need to have met to be able to perform well, the less likely we are able to perform well as the chances of meeting them go down exponentially with each additional condition. I see this as the same for the conditions of happiness where people are not happy unless this happens or that doesn't. They tie their happiness to conditions and most of the time, those conditions are not within their locus of control.
Everyone has their own thoughts about these things and some people tend to feel very strongly about them but, I observe that more and more people are conditioned to require increasing rules in order to act. Many are less likely to act because, the conditions aren't favourable for them without recognising that due to their list of demands, the chances of favourable conditions aligning is slim to none. The timing is never right for many people.
I think those who have really discovered what they want to do, what they are truly passionate about and what gives them purpose in their life, are much less tied down and much more likely to realise that; no matter what the conditions, there are always steps that can be taken.
No matter if there is rain , sun, sleep, no sleep, rich, poor, happy, sad, depressed, anxious or any other life situation, there is is always a possibility to be ones best, even if that best isn't as good as when the stars align and all conditions are met.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
You've got me thinking now. I've been reading that we never used to sleep through the night, but in fact had two sleeps broken by a couple of hours around midnight. It certainly makes sense if you think that in most parts of the world darkness varies seasonally anyway. If you sleep only in darkness hours, then winter would have you sleeping for a lot longer; then surely you'd be sleep deprived in summer.
Most animals will have a larger sleep at night, but general nap whenever the feeling strikes them. If I go into my chickens after dark, while some will be fast asleep, many will be wide awake. Then in the day they'll have times where the huddle in groups to snooze or just randomly doze off, especially in the winter sunshine.
When the weather is hot it's often hard to sleep at night, but easy to doze off in the heat of the day when you feel to drained to do anything anyway. I often wonder why Australians didn't take on the Mediterranean way of up for work early in the summer when it's still cool, siesta in the heat of midday and then work again when it's cooling later in the day. Dinner is often eaten nearer 8pm and then late to bed.
I'm getting ideas now. ;)
I do need less sleep in the long summer days I feel but, the winter days are very short here.
I would think that after hunting and eating, a snooze would be common. Kind of like Christmas every day :)
Blame the English. In my town, they didn't even put verandas on the early houses... I think they were buried young.
Bots have a role here too. We can go to a party and tell the washing machine to turn itself on and start a cycle 90 minutes before we get home. Somebody who posts at a particular time, like my mate @footytips can post via steempeak.com and schedule his posts accordingly.
The internet has minimised the tyranny of distance. Bots can minimise the tyranny of time.
Yes, automation is going to free us up in ways we are yet to comprehend. Many people think that they will be able to move to a new job but the reality is, they are going to have to be able to create their meaning and purpose without the aid of authority. It is a large ask for many.
Th bots will take away the default options except, do nothing and that will mean a lot of people doing nothing because the conditions (someone telling them to do) are not favourable. The corporations will step in with entertainment of course.
I haven't used Steempeak yet.
Mobile's a bit glitchy, but it's early days and @jarvie is very responsive to feedback and suggestions.
Desktop is great.
I've a young daughter myself and sleep for both of us is varying. Luckily, I have a career that allows me to work on the things that I feel provide meaning and that is always energizing. Having said all of that, there are plenty of times where it feels like my eye are bulging out of my head and I just really really realllllllllyyyy need some sleep and no amount of loving what I will do will change the sleep lust.
Having said all of that, there are plenty of times where it feels like my eye are bulging out of my head and I just really really realllllllllyyyy need some sleep and no amount of loving what I will do will change the sleep lust.
I know this feeling well too and sometimes, sleep has to come otherwise it is a complete shutdown.
I have gone 48 hrs with no sleep or rest and 72 with 5-10 min nap when available. At then end your non functional. How conditioned one is has a lot to do with it.
People have unrealistic expectation or so emotionally evolved that when the slightest hiccup happens it becomes an emotional drain that just cannot be handled.
I don't understand that people can't just do their best and except the results. I would rather have the person who gave it their all and fell a little short then the one who completed it and only gave 50% and then just sat back. The one will get better the other reached his peek.
I have read that the samurai would sleep like this on the field during lulls in the battle. Take the opportunity as it presents itself.
Its amazing what the body and mind can handle. The body more so because its harder to trick
Sleep deprivation is a serious thing and should never be taken lightly. Even though we make jokes and laugh about it. You can't make up sleep by sleeping extra hours. That's right the samurai screwed it up for all of us.
I generally don't have to push too hard to get a few extra minutes here or there but haven't had a sleep in day for a very long time.
I know what you mean. I have been doing the cat nap thing for 2 weeks now. I refused to pound the pills.
Today is going to hurt me but I can't let someone do for me without giving a helping hand at minimum.
Its not the heat, its the humidity? I live a a place with a dry heat summer, i sleep ok with no air conditioning
It is more humid here than normal and it is a factor but, it is also 28-29 degrees inside which is pretty warm considering a few months ago the lakes still had ice on them. Conditioning.
Well mate, while I've seen you saying this a lot before. I still wonder how you could have mastered this kind of sleep depriving without float adrift on the ether like a lost plumy fuzz out there the rest of the day.
Come on brother! that kind of thing can't be healthy for you or anyone else. You must sleep well to recharge energies till your top level and recover your best stamina once again.
Yeah! those hours of sleep may start whenever you want within the 24hrs available along the day. In my case the proportion of those hours usually go from something around 8hrs sleep minimum at least and then the other 16hrs of wide open eyes & brain to do whatever it takes. From many years ago this has been my usual schedule to show to others that I've resurrected back to the world of the living beings. Regardless if this risen from the shadows started when there were still sunbeams outside or not.
I certainly 'work' continuously from the moment I open my eyes until I close them again. No matter when these cycles start and end along a 24hrs the day. }:)
I grabbed a half hour nap while she did in the middle of the day :)
Yep, everyone has their own way but most don't think about it at all. Let alone the whole craziness of 'work while awake' :P
Yes, I suppose that these are the only advantages that come with age. Sleeping at least minimum 8hrs straight in a row whenever Morpheus slam mightily your head with his hammer of fatigue and depletion regardless the hour of the day.
Well, perhaps I can say elder age is some sort of an advantage to sleep well, because I certainly am now a pretty old, retired and lone hermit Cranky Gandalf who think he already have accomplished his mission on this life. I already fathered and contributed to grow and rise by their own wings to a pair of wonderful human beings that now they shine and fly high and move higher and farther on their own.
That's indeed a luxury that young parents can't afford just yet. Good sleep in young parents was never within the plans of the deities.
However, I think you still must get rid asap of all that weary craziness that that loony outside world imposes on you, preventing you from sleeping well and whenever you want.
Yeah! maybe I can also say that now because I'm not only a current lonely & pauper ol'fart living a very frugal life at the bare minimum without any other additional responsibilities but look for my own survival exclusively in a poor country that makes us poorer every day. Since that trying to sleep well and completely at least, is the only thing that remains and is within our reach these days over here. };)
Maybe, you should consider move and live down here in Vzla for a while to sleep better. LoL
I am hoping that one day, a sleep in day at least once a week is granted by the overseers.
I could have a brick of useless money as a pillow.
Hahahaha way more than just a a brick of useless money as a pillow my dear friend. You easily could have a whole mansion built and full inside with 'this' useless money too. };)
And just to bribe the overseers who steal your sleep now. Although for my current age and my already uncontrolled biorhythm it looks like an information with obsolete and useless tips for me. I think I will share with you this link nevertheless to see if you still can squeeze from it some juice.
By the way mate. There is one of your great recent posts that I would like to translate to spanish and maybe add one of two of my usual extravagances in there to publish it on my blog. It is one of your greatest articles that I reckon should exist also on at least two different tongues to spread your visionary message of wisdom wider and farther. ¿Could I count with your permission to do it? :)
If our corporate masters get wind of that, they will squeeze every last drop out of us.
Now, here's a provocative thought. Nothing you love to do counts as real work. Activities on Steem as as far removed from real work as, say, eating a sandwich. It is natural for people to want to socialize and many people derive great pleasure from it. This is just another addiction and very easy skip sleep for - possibly with adverse consequences down the road.
I have student business owners who have nap rooms in the office for staff.
Yes but, it depends how you define work in my opinion. What is easy for some is difficult for others and how people class work generally, I say is about the lowest form imaginable. Doing it for the money.
"a shorter amount of sleep and a nap"
I heard that the Spanish habit of taking a siesta, a nap in the afternoon, results in greater productivity because sleep recharges the brain.
Anecdotally, I have observed, at theatre shows in London, that many more audience members fall asleep in a matinee than an evening show.
I think the Spaniards figured out a sleep pattern that better fits the natural human cicadean rhythm than everyone else, who favor one sleep session each night.
The problem is most jobs don't factor in any opportunity to nap for an hour after lunch.
On another note, I find I wake up when it gets light, no matter how much sleep I've had, so I sleep better in the winter than the summer.
Weel, that is a hard thing to do here as where I am in the wniter, the sun rises at about 10am and sets at about 3 and in the summer, sets around 1100 and rises at 3 am :P
The siesta life would work well for me and it is kind of what I try. After work, I try to grab 15-30 minutes.
Oh man, I'm glad I don't live in Finland. Or maybe, if I did, I'd just learn to black out every window in a room. :)
I remember in college an advisor warning new students to not only mind our lack of sleep each day but our total “sleep deficit” or sleep debt over time. In a Harvard study on lab rats , after accumulating a sleep deficit over 2 weeks the rats suffered from failed immune systems. This was a good reminder to be mindful of my sleep patterns, even as the varied gig economy may impact the typical sleep schedule .
This was a great reflection on adaptability, mindsets, programmed behaviour, etc. As we require more and more favourable conditions we become less tolerant to adversities, and hence more weaker.