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{{TNT|Bimaxion}}Bimaxion is a [[Template:Polyphasic Sleep Schedules|schedule]] that combines elements of [[Dual core]] and [[Dymaxion]].<ref name="rdymax" /> It is designed as a transitional schedule for a [[gradual adaptation]] route to Dymaxion, as well as a fallback schedule after Dymaxion becomes no longer sustainable. At 4 hours sleep total, it is considered to be the single most difficult schedule that is still achievable by an average person. 

{{TNT|Bimaxion}}'''Bimaxion''' is a [[Template:Polyphasic Sleep Schedules|schedule]] that combines elements of [[Dual core]] and [[Dymaxion]] schedules.<ref name="rdymax" /> It is designed as a transitional schedule for a [[gradual adaptation]] route to Dymaxion, as well as a fallback schedule after Dymaxion fails.

== History ==

== History ==

Originally mapped out to total only 4h sleep each day by GeneralNguyen, the schedule used to be called "Quadphasic" (4 sleeps per day of 1h each, but more focus on nocturnal sleep and less sleep during the day). It then became Bimaxion with 2 [[Cores|core]] sleeps of only 1 full cycle each, and 2 30m [[naps]], resulting in the change in naming (2 naps = "bi") to clarify naming. Bimaxion is the schedule that gives a highest amount of sleep each day in the "-maxion" family of schedules (4h), to reflect on the idea of an "intense lifestyle with little sleep" from [[Buckminster Fuller]], who created Dymaxion.

The original schedule, named "Quadphasic" was proposed by [[GeneralNguyen]] on a reddit [https://www.removeddit.com/r/polyphasic/comments/4wyxtd/official_new_polyphasic_cycle_released_my/ post]. After some revisions, it became its current form, with 2 short [[cores]] and 2 30-minute [[naps]]. Later, it was renamed to "Bimaxion" to match [[Trimaxion]].

== Mechanism ==

== Mechanism ==

Because Bimaxion possesses 2 core sleeps that are concentrated around the night hours, it sparks the traits of Dual Core sleep, where one core is always scheduled before midnight to take advantage of the SWS peak, while the other core is around sunrise hours for [[wikipedia:Rapid_eye_movement_sleep|REM]] sleep. At face value, Bimaxion coincidentally looks like a shortened [[DC2]] schedule where the core sleeps only have 1 full cycle, and an overall low total sleep. However, at its heart, Bimaxion is often considered "'''easier Dymaxion'''", just like how [[E3]] is to [[Uberman]]. Bimaxion's distribution of sleeps is made to '''closely resemble Dymaxion's''' - one sleep around midnight, another around dawn, late morning/noon and mid/late-afternoon hours. Bimaxion, therefore, is one of the two "-maxion" schedules that theoretically can pave the way for a transition to a Dymaxion adaptation. To make the schedule sustainable, the first core sleep now has to be placed in the SWS peak to get as much quality [[wikipedia:Slow-wave_sleep|SWS]]

{{further|Dual core#Mechanism|DC3#Mechanism}}

as possible. The second core will be dedicated to REM sleep, and the naps provide different types of sleep. The first nap, being early in the day, is bound to give a lot of REM sleep, while the second nap can give only NREM2, or potentially some more SWS as the SWS core alone does not provide enough SWS for a regular 90m SWS requirements each day.

The two cores placed in the evening and morning makes it a Dual core schedule, with SWS and REM mostly being repartitioned into the first and second cores, respectively. However, unlike a shortened [[DC2]], Bimaxion's distribution of sleeps is made to resemble Dymaxion - four sleeps equidistantly placed throughout the day, which is meant to facilliate a transition to Dymaxion. One core sleep should be placed near the [[SWS peak]] early in the morning, whereas the other core should be 6 hours later, near [[REM peak]]. Both naps are expected to provide a mixture of SWS and REM sleep, as their duration allows a significant amount of SWS to be present.

== Difficulty Scale ==

== Adaptation ==

Alongside [[DC3]] and E3 (3h core), Bimaxion is a polyphasic schedule whose total sleep borderlines on the '''minimum sleep threshold''' that an average sleeper should be able to adapt to. However, compared to the aforementioned two schedules, Bimaxion is often considered '''far more difficult''' to adapt to, because of the SWS wakes that appear near the end of the naps, and the single-cycle core sleeps promote SWS deprivation symptoms and REM deprivation symptoms until an equilibrium of SWS and REM is reached in all the given sleep blocks, even if the wake gap between each sleep does not appear to be as long as on many other polyphasic schedules.  

So far, all successes reported on this schedule are done [[cold turkey]]. However, most of the successful adaptations are from short sleepers. A [[gradual adaptation]] from a schedule with 30m naps (e.g, [[DC1]] or [[DC2]] with a 30-minute nap) may be possible, but it has not been shown to work yet.

While Bimaxion's sleep distribution looks very similar to that of E3, adaptations are very rare compared to E3 itself. The 20m naps on E3 at least can delay the oversleeps from the rising sleep pressure over the course of even several days, while an awakening from Bimaxion's 30m naps can be utterly devastating with long-lasting sleep inertia in Stage 3. Staying awake during the graveyard hours between each core can become overwhelming with SWS wakes from the first core as part of the segmentation of the cores.

Along with [[DC3]] and [[E3]], Bimaxion only has around 4 hours of total sleep. However,  Bimaxion is considered more difficult to adapt to, because of the SWS wakes that appear near the end of the naps, and the SWS deprivation due to single-cycle cores. Compared to other Dual core and [[Everyman]] schedules, it can be difficult to stay awake during the relatively long night gap during adaptation.

== Adaptation Methods & Alternate Variants ==

== Lifestyle Considerations ==

So far, all successes reported on this schedule are done '''cold turkey'''. However, most of the successful adaptations are from sleep mutants (~5-6h monophasic) or heavy insomniacs (which is the patent cause behind a consistently low amount of vital sleep stage requirements). A gradual adaptation method to a polyphasic schedule with a 30m nap (e.g, DC1 with a 30m nap) may be possible, but it has not been an effective way to adapt to Bimaxion so far. Because of the difficult nature of the 30m naps, cold turkey method is the most recommended means for a successful Bimaxion adaptation.

With two core sleeps to plausibly fulfill all SWS and REM sleep requirements, it is more flexible than Dymaxion after adaptation, but likely only to a small extent for most sleepers. One short sleeper has been able to make Bimaxion highly flexible as a pathway to adapt to [[Ducamayl]].

Up to date, only the default version of Bimaxion is adaptable. Any other possible variants, including swapping the second nap and the first core's positions, or slightly shortening one or both cores down to ~70-80m to squeeze in a bit more wake time will only increase the hostility of the adaptation process. Bimaxion can be extended, with an extra cycle added to the SWS core, but then its higher total sleep causes it to lose the niche of the hefty sleep reduction amount and the extended version is still much harder than DC2. No one has succeeded with Bimaxion-extended, either. At this point, it is simply better to adapt to DC2 or E3-extended instead. 

Bimaxion only requires one daytime nap, and can fit into those with consistent daily schedules as long as a daytime nap is possible. However, the longer 30-minute nap may be slightly more difficult to schedule compared to a standard 20-minute nap.  

 

Days on Bimaxion have been anecdotally reported to feel greatly lengthened, due to the low total sleep and the absence of long sleep blocks.

Because Bimaxion contains 2 core sleeps to support SWS requirements, it is more flexible than Dymaxion after adaptation, but only to a small extent. The naps ''may'' be somewhat flexible, but it is unlikely that the cores will be as flexible. So far, only one sleep mutant has been able to make Bimaxion highly flexible as a pathway to adapt to Ducamayl. This sleeper also stayed on Bimaxion for several months comfortably without any health issues, proving that Bimaxion may be sustained for an extended period of time. It is then only reasonable that only a low sleep requirement would be able to enjoy a flexible Bimaxion.

Like other schedules with 4 sleep blocks each day, Bimaxion can actually fit into a consistent lifestyle with '''9-to-5 work hours''' as long as a nap around noon is permitted. The short daytime naps provide alertness to help fulfill the remaining vital sleep stages while not being too long to be interrupted by certain events if there is room to schedule them. Compared to DC2, it offers an even more impressive amount of sleep reduction, at the cost of a grueling adaptation and potential inflexibility after adaptation. Light exercises are also forgiving on this schedule thanks to both deep core sleeps, but it is doubtful that the body can recover from a hard workout quickly enough, with normal sleep requirements.  

The relatively early first core may pose issues for some. However, on this schedule, even after adaptation, any events that interrupt or force any of the cores to be skipped will be very damaging, and the resulting sleep deprivation may take several days to recover from.

== References ==

== References ==