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How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

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Re: How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

#61

Post by jdonahue »

Finster wrote: post #41
SeanDav wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is an expert on sleep saying something MIGHT be true now being classed as pseudo science and not to be taken seriously? Your rebuttal of this "pseudo science" is that you perceive that you personally need 8.5 hours sleep - now that smacks of pseudo science to me. People are very different. Just because 1 person in a 1000 (or 100 or million or whatever) benefits from 8.5 hours sleep does not necessarily mean that…

Because of statements like: > people who sleep between 6.5 hr. and 7.5 hr. a night, live the longest, are happier and most productive O RLY? Time for another basic primer on causation vs. correlation.

Why? What you copy-pasted makes no claim of causation (e.g., it does not say anything like "if you sleep 6.5 to 7.5 hours a night, you will be happier"); you just chose to read it that way.

Re: How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

#62

Post by theon144 »

nsxwolf wrote: post #56

The 8 hours "myth" seems to come from the fact that most people sleep about that long when they don't set an alarm clock. We are tuned by evolution.

That's not entirely correct, actually. Before artificial lightning got introduced, people slept in two phases, and woke up in the middle of the night to do things. There were even books that suggested things to do in the time before the two sleeps (besides having sex and praying, that is).

More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segmented_sleep and I apologize for not finding a better source.

Re: How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

#63

Post by mathteacher1729 »

ezy wrote: post #26
mathteacher1729 wrote: post #10

There are plenty of variables that influence "productivity" (however that is defined) but I imagine that the amount of sleep required for maximum productivity varies from person to person. In my personal experience I've known people who require 3 to 4 hrs/night, and others (myself included) who need between 8 and 9. During times when I'm feeling my absolute best, physically and mentally, I get about 2 hours of rigoro…

"8 to 10 hours of reproductive work" Yes, this would tire me out as well. :-) Seriously, I've found that my normal schedule appears to be 7 hours solid, with a 1.5 hr nap, depending. Without an alarm, I wake up 7 hrs later on the dot (and can't get back to sleep), but then require a nap 8 hrs later to make it through the day. I cannot sustain 6 hrs and a 2-3 hr nap for any length of time (maybe a couple of days befor…

Hah, thank you for pointing out the spelling error. :)

As for the variations in the sleep cycles, I think it would have to do with the length of time between REM cycles in individuals. I'm sure there's individual variance in both the length of the cycles and how many cycles are needed for "A good night's sleep".

Re: How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

#64

Post by kamjam »

kisielk wrote: post #13

The author states earlier in the article that we don't really understand sleep and that there is no one solution for everyone. He then proceeds to make a list of "top three" concrete and (IMO) questionable suggestions that he thinks we should follow. Not a great article.

It seems that finding your optimal sleeping time in between Kripke’s finding is a good way to go. It’s certainly something I’m giving a go now.

He does say you need to experiment and not take it as gospel. But there's nothing particularly new in that article, I've heard that story of Japanese office workers napping at their desk in the afternoon many years ago.

Re: How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

#65

Post by aaronblohowiak »

zacharyvoase wrote: post #20

The bit about the 3PM dip is not just about meridian cycles. Since I gave up carbohydrates, I haven't had that hypoglycaemic productivity dip at a predictable time after lunch. As a contractor, I've sat in different offices and witnessed those around me experience 'the dip', whereas I can now soldier on through the day from morning to evening with consistent alertness and focus levels. Oh, and creatine supplementatio…

re: tired after meals -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postprandial_somnolence

Re: How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

#66

Post by nsxwolf »

theon144 wrote: post #62
nsxwolf wrote: post #56

The 8 hours "myth" seems to come from the fact that most people sleep about that long when they don't set an alarm clock. We are tuned by evolution.

That's not entirely correct, actually. Before artificial lightning got introduced, people slept in two phases, and woke up in the middle of the night to do things. There were even books that suggested things to do in the time before the two sleeps (besides having sex and praying, that is). More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segmented_sleep and I apologize for not finding a better source.

Very interesting. I'd have thought exactly the opposite - that without artificial lighting, it would make more sense to sleep off all the dark hours.

Re: How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

#68

Post by felipebueno »

Semaphor wrote: post #53

While I'd be useless for everything when I sleep 5h, my sweet spot is between 6 - 7.5h. I used to try and get 8h+ of sleep and was often tired. Now I set my alarm for 6h after I go to sleep (leaving 15m to fall asleep), have snooze set to 30m and max 3 times. Additionally I need to solve a simple math equation so I don't mindlessly press snooze. That way my amount of sleep varies on what my body feels it needs. Feeli…

I think you'll like this idea: http://sefsar.com/the-alarm-clock-as-an-mmo-game/ =)

Re: How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

#69

Post by Xcelerate »

mgla wrote: post #46
Xcelerate wrote: post #3

You know how there's people that can get by on 4-5 hours of sleep each night? I think I'm the opposite. Left to my own devices, I will sleep 10-10.5 hours a day. If I wake up with anything less than 9, I feel pretty horrible. Not sure why, but I sure wish I could get by on less.

Have you considered the possibility that you're suffering from sleep apnea?

I don't think I am. I'm in shape (was D1 runner) and 22. Who knows though.

Re: How much sleep do we really need to work productively?

#70

Post by [deleted] »

btilly wrote: post #58
criley wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you're a person who reads the description of ADD and says that it sounds like you, maybe a lot. I feel this unfairly divides ADD between "people who think they have" and "people who have" but in my experience this is a horrible line to draw. Many doctors will listen for a stock phrase and hand out a one page questionnaire and diagnose you with adult on-set ADD on the spot. Bam, then you "have" it, doctor verifie…

The division here is between the underlying causes of the distractibility. And that's a pretty important distinction to make. Many things can cause distractibility, from sleep deprivation to thyroid disorders. ADD/ADHD is only one of them. The effective treatment for any of these will not help the others. That is why the DSM-IV includes as a diagnostic criteria that you have to screen for other possible causes of the…

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