Day 1

I have determined that my approximate sleeping schedule will be as follows.

I will take 30 minute naps at 7:00, 11:00, 3:00 each a.m. and p.m. I will still be employed by someone else for the next two weeks, and I am prepared for the fact that I may have to shift the nap times around until my job is over. I also have exams on June 27, 2006, and I am prepared to take a sleep "reboot" day on June 26 if I feel it is necessary for my performance.

For simplicity's sake, I am setting my zero hour at 12:00 a.m. on June 20, 2006. I have gotten a head start on my new schedule, and I will detail my nap-by-nap experiences as I remember them, until my naps are similar enough that I find this unnecessary.

7:00 p.m. (June 19) - While I felt tired from the general lack of sleep I've had for weeks, I was not very sleepy. I dozed, but I don't think I actually fell asleep. Waking was easy.

10:00 p.m. (June 19) - I am too excited by the newness of all this. I dozed slightly, but didn't fall asleep.

1:00 a.m. - I took a 15-minute nap here so I could go to the bar with my neighbor. I am already facing the consequences, and it is becoming clear to me that that sort of indulgence will be few and far between in the coming months.

After arriving home from the bar at approximately 5:15 a.m., I ate some oatmeal and almonds, brushed my teeth, and finished up some work on a school project. For the next two weeks, I'm going to take two of my multivitamins daily. I'm also going to get as much Vitamin C as possible, to ward off potential sickness while I'm adapting.

7:00 a.m. - It was very easy to fall asleep for this nap. After waking up, I lay still for a few moments and went prompty back to sleep. I woke up 20 minutes before my class. Lesson learned: get up immediately after naps. While I was disappointed in myself for oversleeping, I was happy that I woke up in time to get to class.

11:00 a.m. - Only 20 minutes for this nap, as there is much to be done in my lab today. I woke up feeling refreshed and pretty well as a whole, though I do feel that my brainpower is a bit lesser than normal.

4:55 p.m. - Quick 15 minute snooze before work at 5:30. I woke up feeling fine, though tired. I was sluggish at work until I got busy, but then I got into it and performed fine.

11:00 p.m. - Good 30 minute nap before going out with a good friend and colleague, Brian. Woke up easily and didn't feel more tired than I would expect.