How to Tap Your Nap

58 Comments

By Vic Stachura

What do you do when you have problems that need creative solutions? Would you like to be more creative? Are you willing to give sleep a try?

Thomas Edison, Salvador Dali and Stephen King all did it. So did Wagner, Poe and Twain. They all used this technique successfully at one time or another.

What am I talking about? The ability to use the initial stages of sleep to generate creative ideas or to solve a perplex problem. Sounds a little far-fetched, doesn’t it? I thought so too, until I discovered that many of the great scientists, artists and engineers of our time have used sleep as a means of inspiration and problem solving. It has been described as trolling or mining for ideas in the subconscious of our mind.

We now know that our minds are just as active while we are sleeping as when we are awake. Portions of the brain do shut down during the midnight hours, while others become active and take us to far-away places where the ‘wild things roam’. Some of the greatest minds of our time have mastered this technique and enhanced their creativity. And with a little help, so can you.

Salvador Dali called his technique slumber with a key. He would sit in a chair with a heavy key in his left hand and plate on the floor. He would drift off, enjoy the subconscious show and wake up when the key would drop on the plate.

Stephen King also gets ideas from his sleep. He says that ideas are sent the way you would send someone an interoffice message in a pneumatic tube. Sometimes ideas are normal and retrieved while in a light sleep. Other, more exotic ideas are found in the depths of his sleep and only occasionally survive the trip to the surface.

Thomas Edison would put two steel plates on the floor directly underneath his hands, which were holding a steel ball. As he sat in his chair and drifting off into dream-land, his hands would open, dropping the balls on the plates and wake him up. He then noted any images, thought or ideas he had during his “naps”.

The following article was inspired by Jeff Warren’s book The Head Trip: Adventures on The Wheel Of Consciousness. While this article touches on only one aspect of our sleep patterns, “The Head Trip” is truly an adventure on the exploration of our consciousness.

Who is Creative?

Everyone has the ability to be creative and we shouldn’t think otherwise. You, me, your neighbor, even your land lady. Not everyone needs to be a Picasso or a Rembrandt, but we all have a creative and artistic side that can be tapped and nurtured. The key is that one needs to have the desire and the willingness to try. I’m not saying it’s easy but with a desire to learn, and some persistence, you too can be the creative person you want to be.

For me, I selected writing as my creative outlet. I enjoy the craft and enjoy creating stories to communicate ideas. I’ve been freelance writing for a short time now, and people ask me, where do you get ideas for articles? I usually tell them, I sleep on it and get a confused look in return. For me, ideas come at different times and I’ve started to carry a notebook to capture them when they come.

Besides getting ideas while driving or taking a shower, I tend also to generate topics for articles or even entire paragraphs while I’m half asleep or in a partial sleep state. Sometimes I get these ideas in the morning when I wake before my alarm while laying there half asleep. Other times I get these ideas at the beginning of the night when the wheel of consciousness starts to spin and I end up in another place.

Sleep is Exercise for Your Brain

Did you ever think about how you fall asleep? It’s a little more complicated than curling into the fetal position and waking up in the morning. There are actually five stages of sleep that we go through each night. REM sleep is the most commonly known stage and is where many of our wildest dreaming takes place. But it’s in the first stage of sleep where we can easily be aware of our surroundings and mine our subconscious for creative ideas. The first stage of sleep is called the Hypnagogia. I promise never to use that word again and will use the term Sleep Onset, instead.

During the first phase of sleep is when we’re in between consciousness and that deep, REM sleep that we all love. As we slowly slip deeper into our minds, a funny thing starts to happen. Ideas start to generate. Some of them are fantastical, while others are practical. With a little practice, you too can use Sleep Onset to help generate creative ideas or solve complex problems.

Putting the Technique to Practice

There are two tricks to getting this technique to work:

You need to ‘prime the pump’ of your subconscious
Awaken before you slip into a deep sleep and don’t remember that great idea you had in the beginning of the night.

Did you ever experience a state where you were half-asleep? It’s when you’re kind-of sleeping, but not really and you can still hear things around you? It’s a strange feeling. You’re laying or sitting motionless, hearing noises or music around you, and you still have some cognitive ability. Your brain is starting to relax, but it’s not relaxed enough to send you completely into the land of Oz. That’s the stage of Sleep Onset that you can use to your advantage. I really enjoy this feeling and always wake very refreshed and feeling great. What a nice side affect - even if you don’t find any ideas, you’re getting some rest and wake up feeling refreshed. And that is never a bad thing to do.

Photo: Simón Pais-Thomas

The following are 6 steps to putting this technique to practice.

1. Start with a “Beginner’s Mind”

The concept of beginner’s mind is a Zen teaching that basically states that we should take our knowledge of a subject and set it aside for a while and approach a task with a clear mind.

How many stories have we heard where someone described an invention that everyone said was impossible. Sometimes too much knowledge can get in the way of a creative endeavor. If you know something is impossible, then it will be. But, if you don’t, then the possibilities are limitless.

2. Prime Your Subconscious by Focusing on Your Topic

You need to set your mind to the topic or problem at hand and this should be done before you start to fall asleep. It’s similar to when you have a problem and you have that Aha! moment while taking a shower. Up until that point your subconscious was busily working on your problem while you were distracted by the noise of everyday life. But one word of caution: you need to focus deeply on a problem repeatedly for a while, in order to drive it into the subconscious. Only then can your Aha! moment pop out later.

3. Turn on the Music

I’ve experienced the creative state of Sleep Onset many times, and it most frequently occurs when I’m listening to music. Either I put on headphones or have music playing in the background. While I enjoy rock-n-roll and Guitar Hero, a softer style of music works best for me when going to sleep. Buddha Lounge and Kitaro are my favorites. Don’t be afraid to experiment New Age and Ambient Music . Guns-N-Roses may be right for you, and that’s ok too. Whatever works, works.

4. Get Comfortable

Being on an easy chair, lying in bed or sitting on a plane - pick your favorite place, get comfortable and relax. Believe it or not, I experience the creative state frequently while flying. Once I reach the point where ‘electronic devices are permitted’, the head phones go on and I start streaming music into my brain. Maybe it’s a combination of the music, the gentle rocking motion of the plane and the hum of the engines that get my mind going. For me, it’s a recipe for creative success. It’s a shame the mood is broken when the plane hits some nasty turbulence and my drink ends up in my lap.

5. Think About Your Topic as You Drift Off

You’re comfortable, you’ve thought about your topic, and your favorite music is playing in the background. Now you can start to drift off. Before long you may notice that you’re “kind-of” sleeping. You can’t move, you hear the music, and you’re aware that you can’t move and you’re hearing music.

6. Free Your Mind

In your semi-conscious state, you’re aware of what’s happening and where it may lead. Learn to recognize this state of mind and focus on your idea or problem. This is where problem solving occurs and the ideas start to generate.

There’s no magic that I can write about here, you’ll just have to try it and see what happens. For me, I usually start to think about a topic for an article and I’ll start to formulate the opening lines and the premise of the initial paragraph.

7. Wake Up and Take Notes

I typically wake up after a period of time without the aid of heavy keys or ball bearings. But you may want something to prevent you from falling into a deep sleep and missing your creative opportunity. I suggest you set an alarm for 15 - 25 minutes and be prepared to take notes when you awake.

When I wake, I usually write down the opening lines or scribble the paragraph that I was thinking about. It’s never perfect, but it gives me enough information that I can easily bring it into focus. The process is like polishing a rock, after a while the rock becomes smooth and shiny. When you polish long enough, you can make anything look good.

Parting Words

Normally when one thinks of altered states, you have an image of being locked in an isolation chamber or taking substances that shouldn’t be taken. While some may have had success with these alternative methods, they usually lead to unwanted side effects. The sleep approach is legal, it works AND you wake up refreshed. What more could you ask for?

What are your thoughts on alternative methods for generating creative ideas? What do you do when you’re stuck with a problem? See you in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this article, please vote for it on Digg, share it on StumbleUpon or bookmark it on del.icio.us. I appreciate your support. :)

Editor’s Comment (Tina): I have not consciously tried sleep as a method for generating ideas, but am very intrigued by Victor’s unique voice. I will give this a try and comment. What I do regularly is a simple “visualization session” either in the bath or sitting on a comfortable couch.

The idea is to relax completely and let your unconscious mind flow, while allowing your conscious mind to lightly direct traffic. I would start with 5 minutes of gratitude with eyes closed, and then I would drive in to visualizing the end result I want for various problems. I would list out specific constraints and ask specific questions. I would repeat the question in my mind.

Even if I didn’t find the answer after my ‘rituals’, I would continue to mentally repeat the question throughout the day. The answer eventually comes, sometimes quickly, sometimes after a few days. I’ve found that when the answers are received, I’m usually in a relaxed state: after waking up from sleep, after visualization session, while reading, and while taking a walk. Music wise, I prefer any CD from Nawang Khechog for creative visualization. It’s also what I listen to when writing all articles for Think Simple Now.

Editor’s Editor’s Comment (Adam): I have been using shallow sleep as a focus and contemplation opportunity for a long time. I can remember when I was younger, lying in bed at night as thoughts stream through my mind and wondering Why aren’t I this creative during the day? Like me, I imagine that most people experience this same rush, but rarely write down those thoughts. I really appreciate Victor’s approach and style. I hope to see more of his writing on Think Simple Now.

I would also like to note that the Editor spends a long time in shallow sleep every morning while her alarm rings, sometimes for hours. She may not have consciously tried this technique, but I guarantee that she’s experienced it.

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58 Responses (48 Comments, 10 Trackbacks ):

Comments

Andre Hess|Empowered Soul

Jul 16 08, 4:40 pm PDT

1
This is a VERY interesting technique I had not considered before! I do tend to have great ideas and thoughts as I’m drifting off to sleep sometimes - to the point that I get all excited and wake myself up when I really need to be getting some sleep!

I never thought about harnessing this on purpose. I’ll have to try. If nothing else, it’s another excuse to have a good nap! :-)

Blessings,
Andrea
Daniel Edlen

Jul 16 08, 4:52 pm PDT

2
Many times I’ve woken up with thoughts going like crazy. If I don’t write them down before I come out of that fog they’re gone. So I try to remember to grab the pen and pad if my waking thoughts seem important (at least at the time).

Also, I recently posted on my blog about adopting the siesta in the US. The afternoon nap is revitalizing and makes it feel like two days in one! It should become a normal part of the work day I think.

Peace.
Scott McIntyre
Jul 16 08, 4:52 pm PDT

3
Excellent tips for encouraging a good sleep- and better still, a refreshing and recharging one too.

It certainly sounds like an interesting technique and worth trying. I’m a fan of anything which encourages creativity. Now, off to bed… :-)
Vered

Jul 16 08, 4:58 pm PDT

4
I keep a notebook and pen next to my bed because I often get great ideas at night. I sometimes wake up just enough to jot something down, then drift back to sleep.
Carole Fogarty - Healthy Living Lounge

Jul 16 08, 4:59 pm PDT

5
Hi Tina,

It’s a beautiful and thoughtfully written article.

My best ideas, without a doubt always come while lying in bed. I never use an alarm clock and sleep and wake according to the cycle of nature yin/yang. If the suns up then I’m up. I never rush out of bed first thing in the morning and allow whatever my inner wisdom wishes to float to my awareness.

When my thoughts and mind are gentle then creativity seems to flow well for me.

Peace, love and chocolate

Carole
John Rocheleau

Jul 16 08, 5:18 pm PDT

6
The mind is mysterious isn’t it? I find meditation does this for me.

When my meditations are clear and I have dissolved inner conflicts, my sleep is altered drastically. At those times, when I sleep, I have instructional dreams where I am somewhere nondescript and someone I can’t see is teaching me things in a very unusual but effective fashion. I quite enjoy these “sessions” — and benefit from them greatly.

The less clear I am in meditation, the less these dreams happen. I think it is wise to clear the ground properly for inspiration to arise, otherwise something other than the “muse” might show up :-)

Cheers,
John
Marc and Angel Hack Life

Jul 16 08, 6:13 pm PDT

7
This is quite interesting. I have noticed that when I listen to soft music while falling asleep my mind tends to wander all over the place. I’ll have to give some of these techniques a try.
Hunter Nuttall

Jul 16 08, 6:20 pm PDT

8
I wrote my high school term paper almost entirely in my sleep (over many sessions). Well, not the actual writing of course, but the ideas. So many people think that sleep is “dead time,” but it certainly doesn’t have to be!
Monica

Jul 16 08, 6:20 pm PDT

9
Great article and suggestions for getting reconnected with creativity!

For years I have had my Aha! moments right before sleep, in that place where you know you’re awake but you can’t move your body, so I know this is where an abundance of creativity lies. I’m going to get a little more disciplined and try it tonight with an alarm and a notebook.

If it’s good enough for Edison & Dali, it’s good enough for me!
Giyen

Jul 16 08, 7:06 pm PDT

10
I definitely think that your mind works out issues in your sleep, but I never really tried to consciously put it to work on specific issues.

I find that getting acupuncture also invokes the creative mind. There have been several times when I have been on the acupuncture table where I’ve had pretty extraordinary dreams or thought progressions. I now wonder what would happen if I tried to focus my mind on one particular thing at the same time.

Can’t wait to get to try this.
Shilpan | successsoul.com

Jul 16 08, 7:42 pm PDT

11
Tina ~

This article is very practical in its approach to dissect the anatomy of ideas. Best ideas come to me when I’m relaxed. Often, ideas have come to my mind after or during the meditation that I practice daily. As I understand, Thomas Edison figured out how the electric bulb works right after a midday nap.

Shilpan
Raymond Chua

Jul 16 08, 8:05 pm PDT

12
Can we call this as lucid dreaming too?
Daniel Richard | WE

Jul 16 08, 8:12 pm PDT

13
lol. i have like 30 hour days where i’d sleep for 6 hours. can’t wait till december when i can get ample sleep / naps again. :)

i can’t sleep in work and usually burn out after the 10th hour. but i realized that short naps on my way home allows me some final boost of energy and creativity to get more things done in 1 hour than what i’d do in 5 hrs normally.

dugg and stumbled your article Tina! :D

Daniel
Sara at On Simplicity

Jul 16 08, 8:16 pm PDT

14
I do get lots of ideas as I prepare to sleep. Like others have said, having a pen and paper next to bed is vital for me.

I haven’t had the same experiences with naps, though. When I wake up, I’m groggy and my brain feels like congealed pudding. The cool thing about this idea though, is that it’s easy enough to try. There’s no cost, no risk, so why not?
Susan
Jul 16 08, 9:09 pm PDT

15
Thanks for ‘waking me up’ to this process.
It certainly sounds viable to me.

Susan
Toblerone @ Simple Mom

Jul 16 08, 9:10 pm PDT

16
I’m very interested in this, as I have recently bemoaned how often I have great ideas when I’m near asleep, and how I can’t remember them once I’m ready to write them down.

Thanks for sharing!
Shun Jian | RichGrad.com

Jul 17 08, 2:04 am PDT

17
You can also use hypnosis and/or self-hypnosis to induce an altered state…

We are most suggestible at the time just before we drift asleep and just after we wake up. I find that when we use affirmations and self-suggestions at this time… it’s most effective.

I’m giving out 101 powerful affirmations at http://RichGrad.com/gift.html
You may find it useful =)

Cheers,
Shun Jian
Andrew Clouse

Jul 17 08, 2:42 am PDT

18
Being a polyphasic sleeper, I regularly take two or three 20 minute naps a day. I agree that during those naps I have been surprised at how creative I can actually be. Great tips on putting it into practice and channeling the creativity!
Brandy

Jul 17 08, 2:57 am PDT

19
This article tickles me because we were sitting with friends and talking about my current boyfriend. His ex girlfriend said when she would drift off to sleep and twitch, he would wake her and tell her she was twitching. She couldn’t stand it because she was sleepy.

Then I told her how he likes to wake me up from a deep sleep and talk to me. I will have entire, complete witty conversations with him. But I have vague recollections of them. Somewhere between wake and sleep I’m able to tell funnier jokes than I am when I’m awake.

The subconscious obviously is full of things we’re unaware of. lol It’s kind of a random story, but I feel it’s appropriate. :)
Justin Roberts
Jul 17 08, 5:00 am PDT

20
I always welcome a nice nap during the day. usually awake nice and fresh!

JT
www.Ultimate-Anonymity.com
Morghus

Jul 17 08, 5:39 am PDT

21
Also works swell for a short powernap :)
Amanda Linehan

Jul 17 08, 5:45 am PDT

22
I find that I have great ideas after taking a nap in the afternoon. I’m not always able to do this because of work, but I find that I’m really refreshed and energetic after a short nap.

For me, it’s important to keep the nap short though - no more than 30, maybe 40 min. - otherwise I’m too groggy and that does nothing for creative ideas!
vst

Jul 17 08, 6:31 am PDT

23
Hi … great one. It might be difficult if you are pizza delivery guy and you are not Fillip J Fry :-)
Foodguy

Jul 17 08, 6:55 am PDT

24
Some of my greatest ideas/inventions came right at the moment of waking up, either in the middle of the night or 1st thing in the morning. The hardest part is perfecting the art of pulling yourself out of bed to write them down! :-)
Shannon

Jul 17 08, 7:44 am PDT

25
Great article, Tina. I always enjoy your work. I’ve found that some of my best ideas come when I am asleep or when I first wake up in the morning. I need to remember to write them down!
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map

Jul 17 08, 7:47 am PDT

26
I’m not sure if your Sleep Onset stage is the same as Alpha. I would imagine it is. It is first taught by Jose Silva years ago, a method that I also practise to generate inspiration and creativity. Bedtime is not really sleep time; there are lots of things you can also do to program your mind.

I’ve got to also admit I’ve never loved naptime during the day so much!

Evelyn
JB

Jul 17 08, 8:51 am PDT

27
Interesting! This was such a good read! I like the slumber with a key technique!
John
Jul 17 08, 9:07 am PDT

28
Brilliant! I’ve used this technique before but it was more accidental while meditating. This article lays out great techniques to harness that power. I can’t wait to go home and try it!
AgentSully
Jul 17 08, 10:51 am PDT

29
I’ve written about a different kind of nap too, but I really like this idea of leveraging it for creative thinking! Thanks for the idea!
Jerk Bosses

Jul 19 08, 10:42 am PDT

30
I almost got fired once by a jerk boss for asking him to drive the car - I had driven for an hour - its a family habit that after an hour of driving I get sleepy
It would be downright dangerous to drive with droopy eyelids
A two minute powernap and I am fine for the next round
The moron started screaming at me - apparently in his culture one always had to be at attention and standing on guard for the boss
“You lied to me” he screamed
No matter how I tried to explain the rationale and that an accident would of be much greater concern and the effect on productivity were of no avail
I was put on record , my company’s records included this event.
Even 5 years later when i received a company, major regional award this event was noted at the awards ceremony and presenation
What a moron
United Voices

Jul 19 08, 11:09 pm PDT

31
This is a great technique definitely. If this helps to increase productivity then why not accept it. But it certainly has some limitations as well, such as workers who have to go out meet people and travel can’t adapt this technique.
ThaiMed

Jul 19 08, 11:52 pm PDT

32
Great Article, I never really thought about this before but (as a musician) when I think back, my most creative times are usually in the morning.
Musing

Jul 20 08, 8:07 am PDT

33
So I guess this means it’d be more productive for me to think about creative endeavors while drifting off instead of my usual pre-sleep material: Johnny Depp.
Jeff Warren

Jul 21 08, 9:12 am PDT

34
Nice article Vic, and familiar.

Question: any reason you didn’t credit the Hypnagogic chapter of my book, The Head Trip: Adventures on the Wheel of Consciousness, for providing a framework — not to mention case studies - for a good chunk of your ‘creative problem solving at sleep onset’ piece? I mean you even use my ‘Wheel of Consciousness’ metaphor, all of which is fine - even flattering - it just would have been a nice professional courtesy to acknowledge your source material.

Jeff Warren
www.headtrip.ca

PS- Someone else just blogged about the same subject here, but did credit my book:
www.creativedc.org/blog/2008/07/dreams-ideas-and-so-forth.html
Susan

Jul 22 08, 4:55 am PDT

35
I really enjoyed this post, very enlightening. It makes alot of sense. Sleep is key to alot of things. I don’t get much time to nap but I’m going to try a few of these things when I go to bed. I keep a notebook so when an idea comes to me I can jot it down, otherwise, I have something to attend to & I’ve forgotten it as quickly as it came! Thanks for all the great info.
Vic Stachura
Jul 22 08, 5:16 am PDT

36
Jeff,

You have my sincerest apologies for not citing your work. I did use your book and other resources while writing the article and added some of my own experiences. Being relatively new to writing, I always struggle with the whole issue of citing resources. It’s clear I made the wrong decision and will definitely learn from this experience.

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,

Vic
Michael Gorsline

Jul 25 08, 10:59 pm PDT

37
Nice response, and way to own up Vic. Live and learn. So long as you alter the article to cite Jeff appropriately, I think he ought accept your apology.

I certainly have enjoyed having a pad by my bed to jot down thoughts, both hypnapompic and hypnogogic. Not only helps with creativity, but with good old-fashioned getting things off your mind so you can let them go and shuttle them to your tracking system later.
Tom Stine | Spiritual Life Coach

Jul 30 08, 6:12 am PDT

38
I wonder if this works for us non-nappers? I think the last time I took a nap, I was 4 years old. However, I’ve noticed that when I wake-up in the morning, I’m in a strange space of creativity. I wrote the first chapter of a novel lying in bed one morning.
Michael@ Awareness * Connection

Aug 07 08, 6:11 pm PDT

39
WOW! You didn’t add a citation to the article after the author called you on it?!?

Unless I missed where you added the citation, your editor should yank your rear end of this blog for good.

Most unimpressive.
Fire Your Boss

Aug 08 08, 1:01 am PDT

40
It never ceases to amaze me with management
What is not important it seems is productivity , or final profit to the firm but rather about teaching who is boss - and that you never forget it
What a foolish waste of time and effort
Yet “I’m the boss”
What a bunch of morons
Vic Stachura
Aug 08 08, 4:23 am PDT

41
A former manager of mine would give the following advice to his staff: “There is always more to the story”. I could probably write an entire article on the meaning of this one phrase.

It’s funny how actions can be perceived differently, depending on a point of view. Again, another lesson learned for me.

After posting my apology, I contacted the author directly and again explained the error of my ways and apologized. He responded graciously and we resolved the issue. But, none of this was done in public and readers of this blog had no way to know this occurred.

Here is the link to the author’s web site for the book:

http://www.headtrip.ca/

The book is titled “The Head Trip: Adventures in the Wheel of Consciousness” and can be purchased here:

http://www.amazon.com/Head-Trip-Adventures-Wheel-Consciousness/dp/1400064848/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218197129&sr=8-1

It’s really a great read and if anyone is interested in how active we are during sleep - this is the book for you.
Michael@ Awareness * Connection

Aug 08 08, 9:31 am PDT

42
@Vic Stachura: Glad to hear you got a hold of him. I originally wrote this to say “unless I’m missing something”. Maybe I should have left it that way. On the other hand, I would ask you, are you saying that Jeff Warren was fine with you having continued to choose not to cite his article because you spoke with him? I doubt that’s the case, but I could be wrong. I also think it would be more reasonable to place the citation of Jeff’s which your piece is based on in the body of your article rather than buried in the comments. All in all I question whether this being just an issue of differing perspectives is really all that pertinent here.

@FYB: Good eye for plugging your site. Even when you work for yourself as I do you still have obligations and responsibilities to others. And ignoring those responsibilities often has swifter consequences than when I’ve worked for other people in the past. So getting rid of your evil boss probably won’t give anyone a pass for using others’ work without giving them credit.
Vic Stachura
Aug 08 08, 11:07 am PDT

43
I will talk to Tina about amending the article and reposting. I am not opposed to making the update.
Michael@ Awareness * Connection

Aug 08 08, 12:34 pm PDT

44
Thanks for letting me know and for your email. This is a very strong, useful piece. Lots of people are clearly finding it helpful. I’m glad the citation issue is being rectified. I’m a big believer that citing original sources is ultimately a win-win affair.
fiona

Aug 16 08, 11:20 pm PDT

45
Thanks for the info. I never know that sleeping is some kind of exercise for the brain.
howard

Aug 20 08, 8:12 pm PDT

46
Michael Phelps said that sleep help him win 8 golds in Beijing. Why not all of us try sleep to help us make success?
J.D. Meier

Aug 22 08, 4:54 pm PDT

47
I think leveraging your subconscious is great approach. Inspiration over perspiration.

I think the more you free your mind, the more you can leverage your subconscious. Ideas just pop in. I carry a sticky pad with me now and Ideas flow freely and often. Having a simple thought-catcher, opened the gate.

For doing creativity by design, I like to use a range of techniques from MindMaps to sounding boards. I also draw from Thinkertoys and Six Thinking Hats.
Nicholas Powiull

Nov 02 08, 6:27 am PST

48
I did a Polyphasic Sleep experiment. I sleep only 1.5 hours in a 24 hour period. I slept 6 times around the clock. Every four hours I would take a 15 min nap. I did this for 273 days straight.

What are the positive effects that polyphasic sleep has had on my physical, emotional and mental states?

1. In the first 48 hour, my intuition heightened, the mental chatter cleared (like that of a mediation state), and I begin to realize how to live in the moment rather than by a day and night schedule. I begin at once writing what I was receiving from within.

2. My logical mind dulled while my creative imaginative mind accelerated giving me a child-like sense of everything being exciting, new, fun and perfectly fine. Unlocking this part of my mind again allowed me to understand the power of the imagination to solve any problem from within (the key of life) using the engine to creative power and see many more choices that my logic couldn’t imagine by putting limiting beliefs on Self.

3. Time became non-realistic in all terms that time can be perceived since I am up for 22.5 hours in a 24 hour period. I came to understand time as non-existent because there is so much of it. When people refer to yesterday, I can not place when one moment to a next moment was yesterday. It is all a continuous streaming reality with no approach or separation between days and nights to me. I notice the shift from day to night but I do not shift with it in form of a schedule. Instead I listen to my physical, emotional and mental bodies in the moment to signal me when it is time to do something, you would be surprised by how much you do things based on habit of a night/ day cycle.

4. During the process of adopting this sleeping pattern all my five senses dulled and when all the five senses returned, they were much sharper, aware, alert, alive and clear. As if I were in a dream all my life and just waking up to a new world that is much more vibrate and vivid.

5. I felt the elevation of my consciousness to higher states of awareness. I also feel a connection to myself, to everyone else and everything around me. This connection has made my conversations with people much more meaningful and helpful in developing and growing conscious states.

6. My dreams are more vivid, intense, and real. I often have lucid dreams and I remember my dreams quite easily, which is very helpful in consciousness advancement since dreams are a reflection of reality.

7. The ability to remember things (on a short-term and long-term span) has increased dramatically, the motivation I have has improved, and my concentration as well. I literally feel like a much more intelligent person, as if my brain waves are more active. Rather that is the case or not, it is very self-reassuring and builds confidence to a higher focus.

8. After every nap I feel refreshed, energized, wide-awake, with no feelings of tiredness, drowsiness or grogginess. Even when my naps times come around I still do not feel tired, drowsy or groggy. These feelings are non-existent to me ever since I adopted this sleeping pattern. When a naptime is close (15-20 minutes) my body gives me a signal by making my eyes slightly heavier and relaxing my body a bit more. Nothing too intense, just enough to let me know that naptime is close and every nap feels like an eight hour restful sleep.

9. All activities of stress, worry, depression, negative thoughts and seeing things as problems have vanished. The mind is the corporate that leads to all these things. The mental noise in the background that is in continuous struggle trying to make things better and always questioning with “what if” dilemmas. This sleeping pattern puts that mind chatter to rest and opens up a new way of thinking.

10. Jet lag is the result of the circadian rhythm being unbalanced. Circadian rhythm is a natural rhythm that the body adopts based on day and night schedules. When you adopt the polyphasic sleeping pattern then the circadian rhythm is replaced since you will no longer have a day and night schedule, making the experience of jet lag nonexistent.

Including clearer thoughts, feeling more awake, adjusted, aware, alive, vibrant, and energized. Also a growth in intuition, a unique scenery perception, happier with life on every level, no negative thoughts or feelings of depression, more aware to the world around me, answers to any questions I was seeking, more insight, seeing more inner knowledge, experiencing more wisdom, feeling more peaceful, and more of everything that I define myself to be!

This is great advice Tina!

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How to Tap Your Nap

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