Sleep is a vital process that allows the body to rest, rejuvenate and repair itself. The amount of sleep one requires varies from person to person; some sleep in full cycles, while others prefer to rest in intervals.
Here are the types of sleep cycles that affect an individual’s health and lifestyle.
1. Standard sleep cycle
The standard, or monophasic, sleep cycle is the most common, lasting between seven and nine hours at night.
It is best suited to individuals who work regular nine-to-five jobs, or whose schedules do not allow short naps during the day, as it is easy to structure one’s life around the long stretch of sleep time.
That said, the large amount of total sleep time can be inconvenient for individuals who lead a particularly busy life or for those who work in shifts.
2. Biphasic sleep cycle
Also known as segmented, bimodal, biphasic or divided sleep, this refers to two daily segments of sleep – during the night, as well as a nap in the middle of the day.
Biphasic sleep provides a recharge for those who are tired during the day. Napping can also boost memory and cognitive functions, as well as improve cardiovascular health and reduce stress.
For those with insomnia, however, napping will only exacerbate the problem and lead to more exhaustion.
3. Polyphasic sleep cycle
This refers to sleeping multiple times throughout the day, usually in the form of short naps, and it works best for those who can function on little sleep. There are three common patterns of polyphasic sleep:
- Everyman
A long sleep time of around three to four hours, as well as three 20-minute naps spread out during the day. This sleep cycle provides more flexibility but only allows for a maximum of five hours’ sleep daily.
- Uberman
This sleep pattern involves eight 20-minute naps, spaced out in equal distances throughout the day. It is ideal for those who don’t have to be awake for longer than three and a half hours, as that is all the waking time one gets between naps.
The Uberman sleep cycle is best suited to those who can fall asleep very quickly and who can function on just two hours of sleep. Note, however, that it will be hard to make any plans due to the rigidity of sleeping and waking times.
- Dymaxion
This sleep cycle also involves two hours of sleep daily, but in the form of 30-minute naps every six hours. It is, again, best suited to individuals who do not require much sleep.
While the six-hour waking periods allows you to get a lot done, this sleep cycle is difficult to adapt to. Chances are you will be feeling tired throughout the day, and – similar to the Uberman cycle – sleeping for half an hour, four times a day makes scheduling difficult.
This article first appeared in jobstore.com.
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