Could splitting your sleep into two parts boost productivity?

Virgin Radio

4 Apr 2022, 16:35

We all feel like there aren't enough hours in the day.

Could breaking your sleep up into chunks help you to feel more alert and get stuff done?

Also known as 'dorveille sleep', it's an alternative to trying to get a solid eight hours of sleep a night.

Researchers found that the idea of sleeping through the night is a relatively recent concept.

The "shifts" of sleep was first proposed by historian Roger Ekirch in 2001.

The idea behind it is to split sleep into two sessions, and in the time in between people do their hobbies, reading, or relaxing.

Charles Dickens referred to "first" and "second" sleeps in literature.

Experts think it could be the way forward.

James Wilson is a sleep expert: "Individuals do report that they have found that it has made them more productive and calmer throughout day," he adds: "particularly if the segmented sleep fits with the rest of their life’s schedule."

"Most people seem to target about four hours in each session.

"This generally gives you most of your deep sleep and some of your REM sleep, the sleep that is important to physical and mental health, so it feels like a good minimum amount to aim for in the initial segment."

So how long do you wake for?

The average time is one to two hours, but followers of the routine figure out what works for them.

Colin Aston-James is the inventor of SleepHub.

He says: "Studies differ on this, but the majority say that you should try a new sleep regime for at least seven days but ideally ten to give the body time to adjust to the new sleep patterns.

"It is also important to be consistent so that the new sleep habit is established as quickly as possible.’

Colin says: "If you have – to your knowledge – always been a monophasic sleeper in your adult life, then changing to a biphasic sleep schedule can initially have adverse effects especially if it results in sleep deprivation which could cause serious health issues.

"Reports from people who change from mono to biphasic sleeping often report feeling jet-lagged and find concentrating difficult during certain periods of the day for the first few days, as the body gets used to the new regime.

"They also report having much more energy in parts of the day where before they were more drowsy.

"Some found it strange to be wide awake and have energy at night when most others in their surroundings were fast asleep.

"Biphasic sleeping may be more difficult to fit into a daily work and life schedule if the majority of colleagues and family are monophasic sleepers.‘

Would you give it a go?