Summary: Project Dymaxion

So after gathering more thought on the idea that I don't allow my brain to recover and remember new information, I have decided to call a halt on the current PD. Here are the reasons (as well as lessons learnt) from this interesting experience:

• This project is best done in pairs. This significantly reduces the risk of "oversleeping". I really believe that one of the reasons that I have failed in this aspect is because I needed someone to wake me up. So yea I'll definitely keep myself mentally noted to have a partner in crime
• Discipline really goes a long way. Sometimes I miss my nap times and my hours and there have been SERIOUSLY bad effects on me. Like I feel lethargic for the rest of the day and I eventually accidentally sleep 6 hours in a block or something.
• I have also learnt little techniques that I can use now to wake up straight away, despite my bed being damn comfy lol. Little things like keeping something not done intentionally so that I wake up and do it straight away definitely prevents me from going back to sleep 5 minutes after I wake up lol

Alright, so I'm thinking of starting a project Everyman, which is a block of 4, then 3 blocks of half an hour. Will eventually decrease the size of those blocks, but hey it's definitely worth a shot right?

Day 3

Session 1: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Non-existent. I can't believe NOTHING woke me up. Damn sad la. Woke up at 1.15 lol, hoepfully the rest of the day goes smooth

Session 2: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Day 2

Session 1: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

So far in Day 1, concentration levels have been decent (except for times near nap time), and session 1 has actually been pretty good. Had breakfast as usual, did the test with decent amount of concentration. I even brought a pillow to uni this time for sleeping at 2, the white noise recording that I downloaded really helped my sleep...

Session 2: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The telling factor: exercise. I thought that this sleep cycle would definitely get to my ability to out run people, and surprisingly I have managed to play decently (scoring 3 in the process), but it just shows that this sleep cycle doesn't really have that much effect on the body (other than some midnight cravings).

Planning to get sleep after dinner, hopefully tonight's study session will be as productive as yesterday's. I even managed to get a friend over tonight to make sure that I'm awake this time from 3 to 8.

Session 3: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Alertness is fantastic. No caffeine needed actually, it's been a while since I needed it. Even after exercising, fatigue hasn't really caught up to me, but of course as soon as 2 a.m. comes around the same thing happens... I wonder whether if I get used to this schedule, I could start reducing the length of the nap times...

Session 4: 3 a.m. to 8 a.m.

It's amazing my progress so far, as long as i remain awake for the first half hour or so, basically I can survive the next 5 hours. It's that simple really. Concentration has been tip top, just wondering how flexible these nap times can get, hmm...

Day 1

Purpose of Project Dymaxion

1. To improve on productivity. I have mid sems to study for, and trying to balance all this with things I wanna do, this measure would certainly add a dimension to my studying habits. Perhaps it's my calling.

"If I can't have more than 24 hours in a day, I will make 24 hours last longer" - Bigcatism

2. Curiosity. Just another way of testing my physical limits, might be handy in the future.

3. To improve my discipline. This experiment would probably indirectly train me to regain my focus, as I've lost quite a bit of it in recent years.

Date: 19 April 2010

This is attempt 1 to going dymaxion baby. Excited as hell, so far the scheduled time of napping is 10/4/10/4. Below is the concept of Dymaxion sleep:

My history:

• I'm a caffeine addict. This means that my brain works best about 2 am. So combating midnight sleepiness shouldn't be a problem.
• This attempt might stop after mom gets back, but nevertheless when she's not around, assuming that attempt 1 succeeds, I would certainly try it again.

This project would be recorded in 4 sessions. Probably at the end of each day I would do a log on each separate session (which is 4 a.m. everyday).

Wish me luck.

Session 0.5: 10p.m. 19/4 to 5 a.m. 20/4

So far so good. I've had 8 hours sleep the previous day, so at 10 p.m. I actually had my nap (which most before me couldn't sleep at all). Will sleep at 5 a.m. later, since class is at 10 and I will take a nap straight after lecture. I just hope that I stay awake long enough for the lecture to concentrate.

First side effect: Midnight cravings. Had 1 SOLO and a bit of sultanas so far, I wonder how this sleep cycle will affect my dieting habits....

Second side effect: These time “slots” must really be strictly followed. I’m supposed to sleep at 4, but I’m sleeping at 5 and and I’m starting to feel drowsy at 4. Oh well, at least I’ve been relatively entertained, I wonder what tomorrow morning would be like.

Session 0.75: 5 a.m. 20/4 to 8 a.m. 20/4

After some thought, it has been decided that I would change from sleeping at 10/4/10/4 to 8/2/8/2 instead. Considering my studying times, I have tried it.

Session 1: 9 a.m. 20/4 to 2 p.m. 20/4

Class today is 10-11 a.m. Just had a brainstorm in my head, probably to combat the sleepiness during the dymaxion hours I would e have to do something else. Like today for the first half hour of the lecture I was basically fixing my nails while paying attention to the lecturer.

Taking naps in the labs are doable thank goodness, I'm still trying to get used to post-sleep drowsiness, gotta figure out how to shake that off. Washing my face doesn't really help lol.

Dieting habits not affected.

Session 2: 3 p.m. 20/4 to 8 p.m. 20/4

Should be one of the easy ones, just wondering what would happen when the exercise factor comes into play. An extra hour to compensate perhaps?

Concentration has been marvellous. Up to 5 minutes before nap time of course.

Session 3: 9 p.m. 20/4 to 2 a.m. 21/4

Again, post sleep drowsiness is there. Blech. Need something to shake it off. Had dinner early, and for now at least I'm not feeling hungry. Could use a choc bar right about now though. Friends say that I look terrible lol, don't feel that terrible yet.

Session 4: 3 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Could wake up, but my body had a one-up on me and I caved in to sleepiness. Perhaps I need a person alarm...

Day 1 has been up and down, hopefully I'll get more consistency in Day 2.