Can you function with only a few hours sleep a night?

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Vault101

I'm in your mind fuzz
Sep 26, 2010
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Hi everyone

so how many hours of sleep do you get per night? do you think it is enough and is it possible to function on small amounts of sleep?

I say this because for a past few days now I havnt been getting barley any sleep..yet I feel ok, last night I probabl didnt get to sleep untill 2 or 3, however Im also not waking up early so that probably has somthing to do with it, also I dont really have a set routine right now

anyway I read somwhere, I think it was a Cracked.com article that it is possible to function perfectly fine on 2 hours sleep and that you can train yourself to be able to do this

anyway does anythign cause insomnia? or is it just common sense to cut down on the caffine?
 

Marter

Elite Member
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Oct 27, 2009
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I aim for 6 a night. When I'm sleeping right, I usually get around 7.

Some nights, I won't sleep at all, or only get 3 hours. 3 is about the minimum I need to function "properly" though.

And that article you read is likely talking about "<url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphasic_sleep>Polyphasic sleep".
 

Phlakes

Elite Member
Mar 25, 2010
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I get about four or five on weekdays, and six or seven on weekends. I've gotten used to it, though, and I always catch up during vacations.
 
Apr 28, 2008
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It is possible, although its hell getting to that point.

Insomnia can be caused by plenty of things, from caffine, to strong emotions, to hunger, and plenty of other things.
 

Watchmacallit

New member
Jan 7, 2010
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OP...You're posting about people not getting much sleep on a gamer's forum...

Now back to the OT. Yes, I can function with little amounts of sleep. Was up till 4 last night playing Shogun 2 and woke up this morning at around 8, as I usually do.
 

Neverhoodian

New member
Apr 2, 2008
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I can function up until the 5 hour mark. Any less and I'm a zombie (I prefer it if I get at least 7 or 8 hours).

I used to be able to pull all-nighters no problem, but not anymore. Last time I tried it I crashed at noon and didn't wake up until 8 p.m.
 

CrazyCapnMorgan

Is not insane, just crazy >:)
Jan 5, 2011
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Normally, I get about 8 hours on average. I have those days where I over and under sleep, but generally they even out.

That said, I have been able to function on low amounts of sleep. Hell, I was trained to function that way, for awhile. I did a 13 month tour in Iraq, from Jan. 2004 to Feb. 2005, and I averaged about 5 1/2 to 6 hours. I pulled a decent number of 48 hour shifts, as well, but we were taught how to deal with the stress. While it was a memorable experience, I had one of those George Carlin moments that really made me chuckle after it happened.

"Did you ever fall asleep on a late afternoon and wake up after dark...and you don't know what goddamn day it is?"

^(-.-) Yep.
 

TonyVonTonyus

New member
Dec 4, 2010
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I function better with less sleep but I get an average amount of sleep and I always feel tired. I can't believe I'm saying this but I need less sleep.
 

walruspwner

New member
Feb 28, 2011
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Well, I've found throughout the years that I cannot function at all (except for breathing and eating, of course) on 2 hours of sleep or less, and I can't function very well on 4-5 hours of sleep. On 3 hours I am running on adrenaline, pretty much, and I crash somewhere in the middle of the afternoon. 6-8 hours is ideal for me if I want to retain higher brain function, but if I know I can't get more than that I will aim for around 3 hours of sleep so that I can ride the adrenaline train for a good chunk of the work day.
 

Newby_Newb

Regular Member
Jul 8, 2010
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I can not fully function if I don't get atleast 12 hours of sleep.

Anything less than 12 hours, and I am half asleep the whole day.
 

theheroofaction

New member
Jan 20, 2011
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TonyCapa said:
I function better with less sleep but I get an average amount of sleep and I always feel tired. I can't believe I'm saying this but I need less sleep.
this, I'm glad I'm not the only one
 

PhiMuLady

New member
Aug 27, 2009
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I have changed from about 6 hours on weekdays to 4 and less than that on weekends. I think others around me are starting to tell. My world has become a bit gray, I do not laugh as much I did before. I think I have even made my boyfriend wonder if I am starting to lose interest in him. I have just told them all that I need more rest, but some how I do not think they believe me.
 

Daveman

has tits and is on fire
Jan 8, 2009
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No, I can go as low as 4 hours per night for two or three nights but then I just crash and am unable to move or think for like two days after. I really need at least 9 hours sleep in order for me not to want to lie in any more.
 

Logic 0

New member
Aug 28, 2009
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I usually get from 4-6 hours a night on average.

And for me when the temperature goes up I get insomnia.
 

Goofguy

New member
Nov 25, 2010
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Obviously, it's all dependent on the person. For myself, I get about 6-7 hours during the weekdays and about 8-9 during the weekend. The weird part is I usually hit a wall about an hour after lunch where I feel so damn tired. It could be I'm just lunch drunk but at that point, a half hour nap would make me right as rain for the rest of the day.

I like to think I get enough sleep but I guess I'm just messed up.
 

optimus28

New member
Dec 28, 2008
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I get up at 5:45 am Monday thru Friday for work and get to bed about 12am or near 1am. (Star Trek: TNG Then 2 episodes of Scrubs then if I'm not tired 1 or 2 episodes of South Park)
Forget about the weekends, up at 8 am, grab breakfast, on the computer by 10am, out to "The Wastelands" aka Fallout: New Vegas till 2am. Rinse Repeat for Sunday but in bed by 12 am cause it back to the Mon-Fri Schedule.
 

Dango

New member
Feb 11, 2010
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I usually get about 5 and half to 6 hours of sleep a night, and I'm decently functional through the next day.
 

Dark Knifer

New member
May 12, 2009
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I usually get about 4 hours sleep per night (I go to bed at about 10) due to insomnia, so I've learned to deal with a lack of sleep from that.