Optimal sleep schedule

Optic · Post by **Optic** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:07 pm

While this is more of a curiosity than a practical question, what time would veteran burners say is the best time to go to sleep/wake up?

From reading other posts it seems like it's a pretty common thing to get to bed in the early hours of the morning, and sleep through the hottest part of the day. But I haven't found anything regarding the best time to wake up.

So basically, short of not sleeping at all, what sleep schedule would you say gives you the maximum amount of peak fun time on the playa? I.e. While avoiding the hottest parts of the day and being miserable from sleep deprivation.

Post by **Eric** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:16 pm

There isn't an optimum sleep time for everyone. Hell, my sleep schedule changes during the week, depending on what I need.

One year I was getting up by 9 or 10 in the morning, the next year I wasn't going to bed until then. One night I might be up for the sunrise, and the next night I'll be in bed by 1am.

BRC is a 24 hour city, there's always something to do.

Let your body be your guide and sleep when you're tired, get up when you're done sleeping.

You'll miss something, but even if you're wide awake the entire event you'll miss 90% of what's going on. It's all fun time anyway.

trystanthegypsy · Post by **trystanthegypsy** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:16 pm

Unless you have an air conditioned RV, it's pretty much too hot to sleep past 10 or 11 am. Shade you tent well, and you might have a chance.

Personal choice really! I only caught one sunrise last year, and I'd like to catch more... it's both sunny and cool before around 9 am and the light on the open playa is so beautiful.

I love sleeping in the early evening for a couple hours, though then I have to get ready in the dark.. and also risk sleeping right through, haha.

Sleep when you can. Maybe allow yourself one night where you get a solid 8 hours during the night- one of my friends did this after the drunken naked pub crawl and found it very refreshing

One of my friends who DIDN'T do that ended up crashing out right after the man burned on saturday and missing the party times...

Also, trying to take down camp if you haven't slept for 3 days is REALLY hard. so try and get at least 4 hours on sunday night. I didn't. oops.

Nah, maybe I got about that. but then I drove straight back. for 30 hours. had to sleep in a truck stop for a couple hours. *twitch twitch*

kman · Post by **kman** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:40 pm

How well do you function on low amounts of sleep? That's the big determiner for me... and for many. I do just fine on 6 hours of sleep, occasionally less is not a big deal.

People who have a hard time functioning on less than 8 hours of sleep are going to need to either find a way sleep somewhere cool as the day heats up, or go with their normal sleep schedule (in bed by midnight-1am, up by 8-9am).

trystanthegypsy is absolutely correct in that MOST people (not all) are pretty forceably ejected from their sleeping area by 10 am or so, as temps climb beyond what most can sleep through. If you're in a tent, you'll probably be up. If you're in an RV, you'll probably be up... unless you have the AC on.

My hours, in the past, tended to get me to sleep from 4am-9am, which, in typical burner fashion, meant I was always about an hour shy of a good night's rest. (for me) An afternoon or even early evening nap sometimes sufficed to keep me happy, when a likely cool area presented itself.

This very issue is a big part of why I'm trying the hexayurt thing this year, and passing on the RV. Can't run the AC long enough to get good sleep anyway, and it fills up with playa anyway, so what's the advantage again? A stove and a tiny fridge?

I'm hoping to sleep until noon this year, which means I should be solid until 6am... and a bit tired on those days I stay up later.

But who knows what will happen this year?

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:49 pm

sleep after labor day................

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:50 pm

relax people, it's only a fucking camping trip.... sleep when your body tells ya... simple... yes?

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:07 am

It's one of the only times my chronic insomnia is a good thing. I stay up late, get up early and catch a nice nap in the shade. That I could live the rest of my life like this.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 6:26 am

As has been mentioned, the whole when-to-sleep question is about what your sleeping place is like. I'm all about sleeping off the hottest part of the day with the A/C on, and if you properly seal your rig you can keep it dust-free - I always do. An old Rainbow vacuum that uses water as it's filter does wonders for removing whatever dust gets in.
Without artificial cold, I'd revert to the advice given thus far; sleep when you get tired! Or drunk. Or both.

trystanthegypsy · Post by **trystanthegypsy** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:19 pm

ibdave wrote:relax people, it's only a fucking camping trip.... sleep when your body tells ya... simple... yes?

If I wait that long I turn into a very growly girl..

Post by **Savannah** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:51 pm

I'm one of Those People that needs a minimum of 6 hours of sleep to function properly, preferably 7. So I try to go to sleep by 2am on the playa, because by 9am the sun will wake me up, guaranteed (I'm a tent person). Sleep gets harder as the week goes on.

Eyeshades (preferably domed, so as not to press against your eyelids & disturb REM sleep) and silicone ear plugs are great for light sleepers. Foam earplugs are sufficient for some, but more noise gets through.

I have found it impossible to nap during the day, but by 6pm or sunset (7ish) it's possible for even a light sleeper take a disco nap of several hours. I bring a travel alarm though, because I don't want to sleep all evening, or at least I want a choice as to whether I do.

I love to catch at least one sunrise while I'm there . . . either by getting up early having slept all night (beautiful) or staying up all night (ill-advised for someone like me, but a really gorgeous consolation prize).

Optic · Post by **Optic** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:35 pm

Well, being a college student, I tend to function best on an abnormally large amount of sleep, but am quite accustomed to as little as 3 or 4 hours of sleep.

As long as I have someone to slap me across the face a few times when I wake up, I think I'll be fine with whatever amount I get

kman · Post by **kman** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 2:20 pm

Optic wrote:Well, being a college student, I tend to function best on an abnormally large amount of sleep, but am quite accustomed to as little as 3 or 4 hours of sleep. As long as I have someone to slap me across the face a few times when I wake up, I think I'll be fine with whatever amount I get

I'm sure you'll find no shortage of volunteers.

Post by **Eric** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 2:23 pm

kman wrote:
Optic wrote:Well, being a college student, I tend to function best on an abnormally large amount of sleep, but am quite accustomed to as little as 3 or 4 hours of sleep. :roll: As long as I have someone to slap me across the face a few times when I wake up, I think I'll be fine with whatever amount I get 8)
I'm sure you'll find no shortage of volunteers. :wink:

ears perk up
*cracks fingers*

hehheheheheheheh

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 3:03 pm

When I was in the Navy, I could stay up working for three days in a row. Now? I wake up naturally at dawn. On the playa? Yes, dawn and I have trouble staying up late. I'm a daytime burner.

peachandpapa · Post by **peachandpapa** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 5:07 pm

Our camp watches the sunrise every day and then we try to sleep from 7:00am to noon. We then crash around 5:00pm to 10:00pm and then rally and hit the playa for more fun. As Ygmir says, sleep after Labor Day!

mudpuppy000 · Post by **mudpuppy000** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 7:55 pm

Sleep when you're dead!

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:49 pm

One night I dreamed I was eating peppermint candies.

When I woke up, all the buttons were missing from my pajamas.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:57 pm

gyre wrote:One night I dreamed I was eating peppermint candies.

When I woke up, all the buttons were missing from my pajamas.

good thing it wasn't a Vienna sausage dream.........

Gage · Post by **Gage** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:57 pm

We brought a queen size (for our tent) our 1st year, and those 4-5 hours of sleep 'most' nights was magical...

Optic · Post by **Optic** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 12:02 am

Eric wrote:
kman wrote:
Optic wrote:Well, being a college student, I tend to function best on an abnormally large amount of sleep, but am quite accustomed to as little as 3 or 4 hours of sleep. As long as I have someone to slap me across the face a few times when I wake up, I think I'll be fine with whatever amount I get
I'm sure you'll find no shortage of volunteers.
ears perk up
*cracks fingers*

hehheheheheheheh

Then I shall spread the joy by allowing people to slap me! @_@

haolegolucky · Post by **haolegolucky** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 7:33 pm

I've tended to go to sleep around 2-3AM most nights. That way I can get about five to six hours of sleep and wake up refreshed. I usually catch a few sunrises also each year.

I don't see the point PERSONALLY of staying up all night and losing the entire next day because you lack energy. Besides, I've gone the last few years with a beautiful woman who tempts me back to bed.

Clar-i-ty · Post by **Clar-i-ty** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:43 pm

Optic wrote:
Eric wrote:
kman wrote: I'm sure you'll find no shortage of volunteers. :wink:
ears perk up
*cracks fingers*

hehheheheheheheh
Then I shall spread the joy by allowing people to slap me! @_@

Now you have my attention! My quote is in reference to a very good spanking I gave last year to a guy in a monkey mask. Darling I've gotcha covered.

shiznicks1 · Post by **shiznicks1** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 1:40 pm

I like to stay up through the night then crash just before sunrise. thats what works best for me. but ive also known people who took 3, 3hr naps throughout the day and i might be giving that a try this year