How to Sleep Less and Work More
The only safe way to sleep less and get things done
Hey there!
Ever wished to pull 2 successive all-nighters? All without collapsing in fatigue the next morn? Then you’ve come to the right place.
In this newsletter, we’ll be breaking down how you can reduce your sleep requirements drastically so that you have more time in your hands to get work done.
Busting The 8-Hour Theory
Got 8 hours of sleep? Well, don’t go by the herd mentality. Everyone has varying prerequisites when it comes to their sleep quota, so not everyone needs 8 hours of sleep. Few people require around 10+ hours whereas many require only less than 6 hours of sleep. To make this stat more uniform, people have just taken the average of 8 hours and have it prescribed to others.
How to Actually Sleep Less
While some say sleep cannot be replaced, research shows that something more empowering exists. Sleep is a form of rest, and there exists far more efficient ways to rest and heal the body. The most effective way to rest, according to the latest research, is to meditate. To give you a quick contrast, neural regeneration occurs during sleep by about 70-80%. In stark contrast, it occurs by around 200% during deep meditation!
All you need to know:
Meditation increases that melatonin of yours, the hormone regulating one’s sleep cycle
It increases serotonin levels, the precursor of melatonin and a mood booster
It seduces your heart rate and blood pressure to lower, two things associated with chronic stress and anxiety
It gives a kick to certain parts of the brain that control sleep
It improves one’s relaxation response, which helps destroy stress and worry
So, every time you feel tired, simply closing your eyes and meditating works more potently than any form of coffee.
How to Meditate
Now that I’ve talked about meditation in such high regard, one must meditate correctly for me to maintain my public image. Meditation comprises of multiple practices looped under one umbrella term. For instance, focusing on breath can be a form of meditation, or chanting of hymns can also be a form of meditation. Another form of meditation is listening to your own heartbeat. Whatever your preferred form of meditation is, ensure it is done properly.
The meditation of chants involves one either loudly, softly, or mentally chanting hymns and is said to be the easiest form of meditation. Chanting ‘Om’ is said to work wonders because of its vibrations. An experiment conducted showed that plants exposed to the sound of ‘Om’ regularly tended to grow at almost triple their normal rate of growth. Imagine what it can do for you…
The meditation of the breath involves just being aware of one’s breathing, the ups and downs of the chest, and various bodily occurrences due to the inhale and exhale. Remember, any thoughts that come you must shoot down with your mental rifle, for they will stop the healing process the meditation causes.
Nada Yoga involves dulling all the external senses and trying to sense inner bodily processes. The starting point in this form of meditation involves listening to one’s own heartbeat.
While you might need this guide to get work done, a healthy appetite for sleep is a key in maintaining a healthy life overall.
Your Active Insomniac
Adhvai D.M.