I definitely count myself among one of the sleep-deprived. The sad thing is that I know not sleeping enough ultimately lowers my productivity, I can’t help it — I enjoy staying up late with a caffeine buzz.
Anyway, this is an interesting look at sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation with some pretty radical suggestions (get rid of the alarm clock? Doesn’t he mean get rid of the alarm clocks — I’ve got three).
I’m skeptical of some of the claims the author throws around — the claim, for example, that sleep deprivation costs upwards of $150 billion sounds like those factoids about the costs of obesity or some other pet concern.
But I do like his ultimate proposal — run a 28 hour day — and some of the suggestions for getting sleep deprived habits back on schedule. Interesting stuff to ponder, at least until provigil or some other drug comes along to make sleep unnecessary (after dying, sleeping has to be the second most pointless physiological reality).
Source:
Good sleep, good learning, good life. Piotr Wozniak, 2000.