Difference between revisions of "E4"

From Polyphasic Sleep Wiki
m (→‎Lifestyle Considerations: removed unneeded word)
 
(21 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{tooshort}}
+
{{TNT|tooshort}}
{{E4}}
+
{{TNT|E4}}
Everyman 4, or E4, is the '''third''' Everyman schedule in the Everyman polyphasic series. Even though the structure of the schedule is very short, the longest sleep block being only 90m, E4 now has the '''shortest core length''' and is one of the final steps (the other being E5) before the transition to Uberman. It consists of 4 naps to be scheduled each day, and each nap lasts for 20m, as usual. Following the Formula of Puredoxyk, E4 is now the most difficult Everyman schedule, with the total sleep being a measly '''2h50m''' each day. It is regarded as a superhuman compromise between the sustainable/somewhat friendly E3 and the extreme Uberman. Because of the near impossibility for an average polyphasic sleeper to adapt to this schedule, it is advised that '''inexperienced or non-mutant sleepers should not attempt this schedule'''.  
+
'''E4''', or '''Everyman 4''', is the fourth schedule in the [[Everyman]] line.<ref name="pd" /> E4 consists of one short 1.5-hour [[core]], and 4 [[naps]] to be scheduled each day. At 2 hours and 50 minutes of total sleep, it is an extremely difficult schedule and very few have been able to adapt to it.  
  
 +
==Origin==
 +
According to the Formula of [[Puredoxyk]] in her book [[Ubersleep]], E4 and the similar [[E5]] represents the last step in the transition between [[monophasic]] and [[Uberman]]. From [[E3]], the core is further shortened and one more nap is inserted in the day to compensate for the lost REM.
  
 +
==Mechanism==
 +
As with other Everyman schedules, the [[Cores|core]] sleep should provide most or all of the needed amount of [[wikipedia:Slow-wave_sleep|SWS]], whereas the naps provide [[wikipedia:Rapid_eye_movement_sleep|REM]] sleep and traces of [[wikipedia:Non-rapid_eye_movement_sleep|light sleep]]. However, unlike on [[E3]], the core sleep is simply not long enough to cover an average 90-120 minute SWS requirement. For this reason, at least one nap is likely to contain SWS, especially the last one near the evening.
  
 +
Similar to E3, the core should be placed relatively early in the SWS peak. In terms of sleep placements, E4 resembles [[DC3]], but with the second core being replaced with a nap. The gaps follow circadian sleep pressures, which are higher in the night and the morning, and lower in the afternoon. The 4-hour wake gaps between naps may fit into the [[wikipedia:Basic_rest–activity_cycle|BRACs]]. Since it is usually easier to stay awake in the afternoon and evening hours, the last wake gap before core is somewhat longer. 
  
== Mechanism ==
+
The sleep cycle in the core may naturally compress to as little as 60 minutes, which is caused by the greatly reduced total sleep and a high frequency of sleeps. That means its core duration is actually more than one full cycle, risking mid-cycle wakes until the brain adapts by placing light sleep at the trained wake time.  
E4 keeps the same premises as other Everyman schedules, but under much harsher conditions. The core sleep, the small "nucleus" of the schedule, serves to provide a hopefully sufficient amount of SWS, the deepest stage of sleep that is crucial for quality of life and well-being. The naps, as usual, will provide REM sleep and traces of light sleep. However, what works on its less extreme counterparts, E2 and E3 does not work the same on E4. The core sleep is simply '''not long enough''' to sustain a 90m SWS requirement each day, taking into account of transitional light sleep. Because of this reason, at least one nap will contain SWS, because SWS' homeostatic pressure can creep into any naps, especially the last nap on the schedule.  
 
  
To ensure the most amount of SWS, the core sleep is now placed '''at the heart of SWS peak''', ideally starting between 9 and 10 PM. Because the core sleep is much shorter than that of E3, the extra nap will be added to the schedule to balance the long wake gap between the end of the core and the nap around sunrise hours. In a way, E4 is basically DC3 without the second core, as DC3's second core is also placed around the same time as E4's first nap. The overall schedule looks to be '''equidistant''', and there is a longer wake gap from the last nap of the day to the core. There is approximately 4 hours of wake gap between each nap, which ideally fits into the '''BRAC concept''' when scheduling (~4h rhythm). After all the naps have been taken, it supposedly becomes easier to stay awake in the afternoon and evening hours, hence the longer wake gap. The naps also take advantage of the common circadian spots for sleep - the first two are during graveyard hours, which coincide with monophasic sleep time, while the third nap resembles a nap taken on a biphasic schedule ('''circadian nadir at noon'''), and the last nap is around ~'''4-5 PM''', when core body temperature reaches the maximum value, which is suitable for short sleep durations (to ease waking up).  
+
==Adaptation==
 +
{{further|Uberman#Adaptation}}
 +
Adapting to E4 is very harsh and involves extreme levels of sleep deprivation, similar to a milder version of Uberman. SWS is almost certainly cut short at the start of the adaptation, and it is very difficult to fit all of the needed amount into the short core. REM sleep will need to almost entirely be moved to naps. Sleepers with average vital sleep baselines (~90 minutes each of SWS and REM sleep) are unlikely to be able to sustain this schedule, and will likely incur chronic [[wikipedia:Sleep_deprivation|sleep deprivation]] should they remain on the schedule.  
  
The sleep cycle during E4 core compresses potentially to as short as '''60 minutes''', which seems to be caused by an extremely short core and a high frequency of naps. That means its core duration is actually '''one and a half cycles''', risking mid-cycle SWS wakes until the brain adapts by placing light sleep at the trained wake time.  
+
It may be possible to transition to E4 as a [[gradual adaptation]] from E3, but no one has successfully adapted this way. As E4 is likely below the threshold for many people, this transition may be impossible regardless of the method. The few people who have adapted to it so far did so [[cold turkey]]. E4 can also be a fallback for Uberman fails, but it has also not been sustainable for most people who attempted.  
  
== Adaptation ==
+
When adaptation first begins, as usual, sleepers are expected to fall asleep in only some naps. However, as sleep debt quickly accumulates, it will be easier to fall asleep. [[4-Stages Adaptation Model#Stage3|Stage 3]] is expected to set in within a week or so, due to the large sleep reduction. An extreme adaptation is then required to reach the equilibrium of SWS and REM in all sleep blocks to be able to adapt. As with Uberman, any noticeable oversleeps will be devastating to the adaptation, which relies on the careful management of homeostatic pressure.
Adaptation to E4 is severely more difficult than to E3, because the removal of 1 core cycle makes it impossible for all SWS baseline to be protected. Even if it is (because of lower requirements), REM sleep becomes troubled because there is limited space in the core that would provide REM sleep, and the naps do not guarantee REM, or not consistently (especially naps after ~3-4 PM). Because it is not possible for an average vital sleep baseline (~90m REM and ~90m SWS) to be sustained on this schedule, these individuals will incur chronic sleep deprivation on this schedule.  
 
  
Mostly because of E4's incredible difficulty, adaptations are very rare up to date, even though there is a minor amount of success. Though it is possible to transition to E4 as a '''gradual adaptation''' from E3, so far this has reported no success rate. It is likely that adaptation to E3 is already overbearing at that point, and another immediate transition to E4, which is below the minimum sleep threshold, is the limitation that most people cannot get to. '''Cold turkey method''', however, accounts for all the successful adaptations (including the '''extended''' version). E4 is also an option to fall back on if Uberman fails, but so far no one has been able to pull this off, either.  
+
==Difficulty==
 +
Successful adaptations are very rare. The schedule represents a compromise between the relatively friendly [[E3]] and the more extreme [[Uberman]]. Because of the great difficulty, inexperienced and/or average sleepers should not attempt this schedule.  
  
When adaptation first begins, as usual sleepers are expected to not fall asleep in some naps, or all of the naps. However, as sleep debt quickly accumulates, it will be easy to do so, and Stage 3 is expected to arrive in a matter of days. Since no vital sleep baseline is protected, sleep deprivation will continually build up rather than getting relieved by the humble amount of total sleep on the schedule. An extreme adaptation is then required to reach the equilibrium of SWS and REM in all sleep blocks to be able to adapt. As with Uberman, any oversleeps greater than a rare 10m or so will be devastating to the adaptation process that requires both strict circadian entrainment and severe homeostatic pressure.
+
==Lifestyle Considerations==
 +
With 5 sleep blocks per day, E4 is a difficult schedule to fit in to most people's lives. This is one of the reasons E4, including the [[#Extended|extended variant]], is far from being as popular and well-known as E3. It can be viewed as a slightly less extreme version of Uberman. For short sleepers, the core addresses the need for the full functioning of the glymphatic system, which is one of the potential health concerns with [[nap only]] schedules.  
  
== Alternate Variants ==
+
Some have attempted the schedule in order to learn napping skills, without the goal of adapting. As the schedule contains a core, it is much more sustainable than attempting Uberman or [[Naptation]] for the same purpose, allowing more time for the body to get used to the napping pattern.
Despite its unpopularity compared to E3 and Uberman, there has been '''limited success''' with E4 over the years. Below are the variants that have been succeeded.  
 
  
=== Non-equidistant naps ===
+
E4 can also be used as an emergency schedule for brief periods in an effort to gain time, especially for those who are on schedules with naps. The naps improve alertness and avoids the effects of total sleep deprivation. Alternatively, highly motivated people under great time stress, such as new parents, students, or entrepreneurs, may be able to sustain the schedule for some time, possibly reaching a near-adaptation state. Still, for normal sleepers, any time spent on the schedule can incur sleep deprivation, and is unlikely to be healthy.  
[[File:Non-equidistant naps.png|center|thumb|E4 with non-equidistant naps]]
 
Up to date there has only been a success or two with this scheduling. The concepts look similar to the default version, except for the nap placement. There is a slightly longer wake gap between the sunrise nap and the noon nap, which allows for more wake time in the morning to maintain an uninterrupted and longer work flow. The last nap is moved to after regular work/school hours (which is usually around 5 PM). Due to the low total sleep and a shortened core, it is necessary to schedule the naps somewhat close together, as one nap will less capability of sustaining wakefulness. A 20m nap on E4 will not fuel performance as long as a 20m nap on E3 or E2 for that reason. Thus, it is not advisable to have more than ~'''5h wake gap between any naps''' (barring the last nap's wake gap) on regular E4 scheduling
 
  
=== Extended ===
+
However, E4's scheduling requires either two naps during the workday, or one before, one in, and one right after. Either option can be quite hard to schedule for many. For most sleepers that can adapt to it, the standard E4 is still unlikely to be flexible, meaning that the nap times can be moved very little. The extended variant would allow for more flexibility in nap timings, especially in the last two naps. Compared to E3, it would also be easier to skip or move naps on E4-extended.  
[[File:Extended.png|center|thumb|E4-extended]]
 
One polyphasic sleeper from the Discord community has successfully adapted to this variant. This E4 is basically '''E3 (3.5h core variant) with an extra nap'''. The extension of the core sleep creates a lot more space for SWS and REM, and alleviates the pressure on the naps. Same as the regular version, 2 naps are moved to night hours before the day starts, leaving only 2 daytime naps. Alternatively, a '''3h core''' is also viable, but it has no adaptation success, and flexing a 3h core on an Everyman schedule is already established to be very unlikely.
 
  
The extension of the core sleep and the high frequency of nighttime naps helps boost alertness more effectively during the worrisome graveyard hours, a common issue on almost, if not all, Everyman adaptations. Despite an overwhelming adaptation, E4-extended may be somewhat milder to adapt to than E3, given the frequency of sleep and the combined efforts of the core and the naps to protect the baseline of vital sleep stages. With a reasonable amount of sleep from the extension, E4-extended may be sustained long-term if the lifestyle allows for the clunky scheduling.  
+
E4-extended may also allow a transition to a shortened version of [[Sevamayl]], with more (3-5) naps to compensate, but no one has managed to do this thus far. The frequent naps on the schedule also separates each day into many segments, which can make a day feel very long.
  
== Lifestyle Considerations ==
+
==Variants==
With 5 sleep blocks per day, even though E5 offers an amazing amount of sleep reduction, sleeping 5 times per day may be a concept that creates boredom and lack of motivation to micromanage that many sleep blocks. This is one of the reasons E4, whether extended or not, is far from being as popular and well-known as E3.  
+
Despite its unpopularity compared to E3 and Uberman, there has been some success with different variants of E4 over the years. Below are the variants that have been succeeded.  
  
Aside from the inflexibility after adaptation, virtually no exercise and/or consuming alcoholic beverages or drinks for an average sleeper, E4 actually has some saving graces from the more awkward E5, and may be worth an attempt.  
+
===Alternative nap spacing===
 +
[[File:Non-equidistant naps.png|thumb|E4 with alternative nap spacing|alt=]]
 +
Compared to the standard, this variant has gap sizes that more closely follow circadian sleep pressure. There is a slightly longer wake gap between the sunrise nap and the noon nap, which allows for more wake time in the morning to maintain an uninterrupted work time. The last nap is moved to early evening, for convenience. Compared to E4, the naps are still close together, as each nap sustains wakefulness less than on other schedules due to the shortened core. It is advised to avoid wake gaps larger than ~5 hours (other than last gap) on regular E4.
  
* First, it is '''less extreme than Uberman''', and the extended variant shows that it remains a viable option for long-term sustenance. Those who vacillate between Uberman's extreme adaptation and E3 (whose sleep reduction does not suffice) can consider E4. The higher frequency of naps (at least on extended version) can help prevent crashes and experienced sleepers can take advantage of their strong napping skills to learn to fall asleep and achieve SOREM in the nap(s) in the early adaptation stage.  
+
===Extended ===
 +
[[File:Extended.png|thumb|E4-extended|alt=]]
 +
One member from the [[Polyphasic Sleep Discord|Discord]] has successfully adapted to this variant. This E4 is similar to E3 (3.5-hour core), but with an extra nap. The extension of the core sleep lessens the need for compressing SWS and makes the schedule far easier to adapt to. Same as the regular version, two naps are placed at night and in the morning, leaving two daytime naps. Alternatively, a 3-hour core is also viable, but it has seen no attempts.
  
* Second, its '''multiple naps''' teaches napping skills quickly, as sleep pressure racks up fast on E4. This is also an advantage that can push adaptation to a later stage faster than on schedules like E1, as there are multiple opportunities per day to learn to fall asleep and wake up in just 20 minutes. For emergency circumstances that require less sleep for a brief period of time (e.g, ~1 week to ~1 month), the short naps and the core can act as temporary tanks to give some rest rather than pulling all-nighters. Individuals who can take advantage of E4 can be <u>new parents</u>, <u>students on borrowed time</u> or have been used to sleep deprivation to power through some amount of days before recovering. The naps only last for 20m, and coupled with E4's total sleep, it can feel like "no sleep" or only "1.5h sleep" for the whole day. It is necessary to ensure that all waking hours are optimized for these urgent activities. Personal motivation and adrenaline will play a massive role to ensure that productivity can be sustained during these burst periods.  
+
The high frequency of nighttime naps helps boost alertness during the graveyard hours, which is a common issue in most Everyman adaptations. With the extra sleep from core extension, E4-extended may be a sustainable long-term schedule if one's lifestyle can accommodate it.  
  
* Lastly, E4's scheduling structure gives it the '''same vantage points''' as schedules with 2 daytime naps (e.g, DC2, E3). At face values, scheduling 2 naps during the day can be problematic for a lot of people, but it can be done with the proper scheduling. This can be seen in the noon nap of E4, which can be scheduled during a lunch break, and the fourth nap can be scheduled after work. Breakfast can be done after the second nap, lunch can be scheduled after the noon nap, and dinner after the last nap, or ~2.5-3h before the core. Thus, it can fit into even mainstream '''9-to-5 jobs''', as long as napping is permitted and thoroughly discussed among parties.
 
  
* The extended version allows quite some room for flexibility of the naps after adaptation, especially the last nap or two. With many naps, it is also more tolerable to skip a nap (if required) during adaptation to this variant without punishing downsides like on the regular version. The more opportunities with an extra nap compared to E3 can provide more recovery from stress or any other additional minor productivity lapses. For instance, an extra period of tiredness can be buried cleanly by the extra nap from E4 that is not present on E3.
+
==References==
 
+
{{reflist|refs=
* '''E4-extended''' is also a possible candidate to adapt to '''SEVAMAYL''', a highly enhanced Everyman prototype, as there has been one SEVAMAYL sleeper with a 3.5h core sleep (however he did not transition from E4-extended, but '''did SEVAMAYL cold turkey''' by abusing his low sleep requirements). This would theoretically allow for the alternation between 3, 4 and 5 naps from day to day, and E4-extended can help form flexible napping habits. It is worth noting that no one has done this transition step to SEVAMAYL. The scheduling of naps also separates each day into "shorter days", which makes a day feel very long.
+
<ref name="pd">{{cite book |last=Puredoxyk |date=2013 |title=Ubersleep: Nap-Based Sleep Schedules and the Polyphasic Lifestyle}}</ref>
 
+
}}
However, even though E4-extended is a hospitable variant, more data is needed on this variant to determine its other niches or downsides. For the default version, reported successful adapters did not stay on it for more than a couple months (~2-3 months), mostly from insomniac or even chronically sleep deprived individuals due to certain living conditions that require less sleep (which creates an adaptation to less monophasic sleep), or certain health conditions that heavily disrupt the structure of their monophasic pattern. More adaptation samples are required to determine if E4 is overall a viable long-term schedule for individuals who reportedly can complete the adaptation phase.
 
  
 
[[Category:Schedules]]
 
[[Category:Schedules]]
 
{{TNT|Polyphasic Sleep Schedules}}
 
{{TNT|Polyphasic Sleep Schedules}}

Latest revision as of 03:23, 15 January 2021

This is an unadvisable schedule, as its total sleep time is considered to be below the bare minimum required for most people.
E4
Everyman 4
chart link

Total sleep2 hours 50 minutes
Proposed byPuredoxyk
DifficultyExtremely hard
Specification1 single-cycle core sleep, 4 naps around the day
Former namesEveryman 1.5

E4, or Everyman 4, is the fourth schedule in the Everyman line.[1] E4 consists of one short 1.5-hour core, and 4 naps to be scheduled each day. At 2 hours and 50 minutes of total sleep, it is an extremely difficult schedule and very few have been able to adapt to it.

Origin

According to the Formula of Puredoxyk in her book Ubersleep, E4 and the similar E5 represents the last step in the transition between monophasic and Uberman. From E3, the core is further shortened and one more nap is inserted in the day to compensate for the lost REM.

Mechanism

As with other Everyman schedules, the core sleep should provide most or all of the needed amount of SWS, whereas the naps provide REM sleep and traces of light sleep. However, unlike on E3, the core sleep is simply not long enough to cover an average 90-120 minute SWS requirement. For this reason, at least one nap is likely to contain SWS, especially the last one near the evening.

Similar to E3, the core should be placed relatively early in the SWS peak. In terms of sleep placements, E4 resembles DC3, but with the second core being replaced with a nap. The gaps follow circadian sleep pressures, which are higher in the night and the morning, and lower in the afternoon. The 4-hour wake gaps between naps may fit into the BRACs. Since it is usually easier to stay awake in the afternoon and evening hours, the last wake gap before core is somewhat longer.

The sleep cycle in the core may naturally compress to as little as 60 minutes, which is caused by the greatly reduced total sleep and a high frequency of sleeps. That means its core duration is actually more than one full cycle, risking mid-cycle wakes until the brain adapts by placing light sleep at the trained wake time.

Adaptation

Adapting to E4 is very harsh and involves extreme levels of sleep deprivation, similar to a milder version of Uberman. SWS is almost certainly cut short at the start of the adaptation, and it is very difficult to fit all of the needed amount into the short core. REM sleep will need to almost entirely be moved to naps. Sleepers with average vital sleep baselines (~90 minutes each of SWS and REM sleep) are unlikely to be able to sustain this schedule, and will likely incur chronic sleep deprivation should they remain on the schedule.

It may be possible to transition to E4 as a gradual adaptation from E3, but no one has successfully adapted this way. As E4 is likely below the threshold for many people, this transition may be impossible regardless of the method. The few people who have adapted to it so far did so cold turkey. E4 can also be a fallback for Uberman fails, but it has also not been sustainable for most people who attempted.

When adaptation first begins, as usual, sleepers are expected to fall asleep in only some naps. However, as sleep debt quickly accumulates, it will be easier to fall asleep. Stage 3 is expected to set in within a week or so, due to the large sleep reduction. An extreme adaptation is then required to reach the equilibrium of SWS and REM in all sleep blocks to be able to adapt. As with Uberman, any noticeable oversleeps will be devastating to the adaptation, which relies on the careful management of homeostatic pressure.

Difficulty

Successful adaptations are very rare. The schedule represents a compromise between the relatively friendly E3 and the more extreme Uberman. Because of the great difficulty, inexperienced and/or average sleepers should not attempt this schedule.

Lifestyle Considerations

With 5 sleep blocks per day, E4 is a difficult schedule to fit in to most people's lives. This is one of the reasons E4, including the extended variant, is far from being as popular and well-known as E3. It can be viewed as a slightly less extreme version of Uberman. For short sleepers, the core addresses the need for the full functioning of the glymphatic system, which is one of the potential health concerns with nap only schedules.

Some have attempted the schedule in order to learn napping skills, without the goal of adapting. As the schedule contains a core, it is much more sustainable than attempting Uberman or Naptation for the same purpose, allowing more time for the body to get used to the napping pattern.

E4 can also be used as an emergency schedule for brief periods in an effort to gain time, especially for those who are on schedules with naps. The naps improve alertness and avoids the effects of total sleep deprivation. Alternatively, highly motivated people under great time stress, such as new parents, students, or entrepreneurs, may be able to sustain the schedule for some time, possibly reaching a near-adaptation state. Still, for normal sleepers, any time spent on the schedule can incur sleep deprivation, and is unlikely to be healthy.

However, E4's scheduling requires either two naps during the workday, or one before, one in, and one right after. Either option can be quite hard to schedule for many. For most sleepers that can adapt to it, the standard E4 is still unlikely to be flexible, meaning that the nap times can be moved very little. The extended variant would allow for more flexibility in nap timings, especially in the last two naps. Compared to E3, it would also be easier to skip or move naps on E4-extended.

E4-extended may also allow a transition to a shortened version of Sevamayl, with more (3-5) naps to compensate, but no one has managed to do this thus far. The frequent naps on the schedule also separates each day into many segments, which can make a day feel very long.

Variants

Despite its unpopularity compared to E3 and Uberman, there has been some success with different variants of E4 over the years. Below are the variants that have been succeeded.

Alternative nap spacing

E4 with alternative nap spacing

Compared to the standard, this variant has gap sizes that more closely follow circadian sleep pressure. There is a slightly longer wake gap between the sunrise nap and the noon nap, which allows for more wake time in the morning to maintain an uninterrupted work time. The last nap is moved to early evening, for convenience. Compared to E4, the naps are still close together, as each nap sustains wakefulness less than on other schedules due to the shortened core. It is advised to avoid wake gaps larger than ~5 hours (other than last gap) on regular E4.

Extended

E4-extended

One member from the Discord has successfully adapted to this variant. This E4 is similar to E3 (3.5-hour core), but with an extra nap. The extension of the core sleep lessens the need for compressing SWS and makes the schedule far easier to adapt to. Same as the regular version, two naps are placed at night and in the morning, leaving two daytime naps. Alternatively, a 3-hour core is also viable, but it has seen no attempts.

The high frequency of nighttime naps helps boost alertness during the graveyard hours, which is a common issue in most Everyman adaptations. With the extra sleep from core extension, E4-extended may be a sustainable long-term schedule if one's lifestyle can accommodate it.


References

  1. Puredoxyk (2013). Ubersleep: Nap-Based Sleep Schedules and the Polyphasic Lifestyle.