FOUR alternative human sleep cycles and how they work

Not all of us have the same kind of sleep cycles.

We assume we do, but in reality, people sleep in varying ways. What works for Tendai does not necessarily work for Sipho. Do you see what we did there with the names? Not woke, just awesome.

Before we delve into the alternative sleep cycles, we must spell out the common one which is monophasic. You go to bed and sleep for eight hours straight or whatever. This is sleep at night by the way.

So anyway, we are gonna share four sleep cycles, all good for different people and how they work.

Biphasic – The sleep pattern is split into two. 5-6 hours at night then one and a half hour nap during the day. Naps improve cardiovascular health and reduce stress. But not a good idea if sleeping during the day makes it harder to do so at night.
Everyman cycle – This one is wild. You have one 3 and half hour sleep period. Then three 20 minute naps during the day. So that makes is four and a half hours in total. This requires serious discipline and is suitable for people who want to increase waking hours.
Dymaxion cycle – Oh now it gets wilder. Four 30-minute periods of sleep and one two-hour solid sleep periods. All of these must be separated by six waking hours. It is hard to adapt to though.
Uberman cycle – Now this one is extreme. Six 20 minute naps all spaced out. That right there is a maximum of two hours of sleep per day. Just the thought of it feels extreme. How do you even have a social life? It just means you work, that’s it.

What you try is basically up to you. Dreams recommends that you get eight hours of sleep per day but they do not have to all be at the same time, that is monophasic.