Insomnia and breaking up sleep to feel refreshed

[Guest guest]

Francisca, I thought of you (and me) when I read this story of sleep deprivation. This type of sleep is sustained over a 3 or 4 month period. The racers consult sleep specialists prior to these long races inorder to find the best way to sleep the least. Maybe those with insomnia need to think about their sleep in like manner!

Below is the first part of the story on how long distance single racing sailors sail and sleep. This was for Ellen MacArthur, age 23 who broke all kind of records last year in an around the world race. Youngest, youngest woman, etc., etc. Very interesting story, but not a profession to take up for a long life span!

Janet S.

for full story see this link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1180274.stm

Throughout her journey, Ellen MacArthur was under extreme pressure to sleep as little as possible.

But losing out on sleep can makes you more likely to lose concentration or have an accident, which could be fatal for a solo sailor.

Ellen enlisted the help of a neurologist and world expert on sleep and alertness management, Dr Claudio Stampi, who trained her to sleep more like a baby.

Ellen got just 1.7 hours sleep one day (picture: APP Sports News)

Ellen managed to survive on about five-and-a-half hours' sleep a day, but never in one chunk. Instead, she divided it into short naps.

Her average time asleep was just 36 minutes and during her 94-day voyage Ellen had 891 naps.