Different Polyphasic Sleep Schedules
The Everyman, Uberman and Dymaxion Napping Systems
May 14, 2009
In cultures that practice polyphasic sleep such as the Paraha, sleep is fitted in around tasks or taken whenever the individual feels tired. Western monophasic sleepers who decide to try out polyphasic sleep tend to adapt a somewhat more regimented approach, at least initially. The Dymaxion, Uberman and Everyman sleep schedules are three of the most popular forms of polyphasic sleeping.
Dymaxion Sleep
This sleeping schedule takes its name from Buckminster Fuller’s invention brand name (a portmanteau of “dynamic maximum tension”). Fuller came up with his polyphasic sleeping system after observing the sleep habits of animals. His original aim was to sleep as soon as felt tired, whenever he felt tired: this turned out to be approximately every six hours, resulting in an equitetraphasic sleep schedule. Those who attempt dymaxion sleep today tend to follow the “30-minute naps four times a day” rule quite rigidly, which is not altogether in the spirit of Fuller.
The dymaxion schedule involves fewer naps than all other polyphasic schedules, but the same amount of total sleep time as the Uberman schedule if the latter uses 20-minute naps.
Uberman Sleep
Uberman sleepers nap for approximately 20 minutes six times a day (every four hours). This method was successfully adopted by bloggers Steve Pavlina and PureDoxyk – the latter coined the terms “Uberman” and “Everyman” for two of the popular sleeping schedules.
Some Uberman sleepers nap for 25 or even 30 minutes instead of the regular 20.
Everyman Sleep
This schedule is often considered to be less “extreme” than other forms of polyphasic sleep, as it contains a “core sleep” of a few hours, usually in the early morning, as well as short naps during the day. In reality this system may be more physically difficult to adjust to, as the core sleep will delay the sleep deprivation which triggers the brain to adapt to instantaneous REM sleep upon falling asleep. However, the system may be easier to adjust to psychologically than other sleep schedules, as the core sleep provides a sense of delineation between one day and the next.
Everyman sleep is more freeform in structure than other polyphasic sleep schedules; sleepers nap whenever they feel tired rather than at set points throughout the day.
Polyphasic sleeper PureDoxyk notes that not every combination of core sleep and naps works – too short, a core sleep is only as effective as a regular 20-minute nap, while too long a core sleep makes the sleeping schedule more similar to siesta sleeping than true polyphasic sleep.
“Reboot” Days
Some polyphasic sleepers on any of the above schedules like to supplement their sleep with “reboot” sleep – a long chunk of sleep every few weeks. This allows the sleeper to experience the third and fourth stages of sleep, which some believe is psychologically and/or physically beneficial.
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