Yes, you can split your sleep time, but whether it's beneficial depends on various factors. Historically, humans often slept in two segments – a practice sometimes called segmented or biphasic sleep. Modern lifestyles, however, typically emphasize a single, consolidated sleep period.
Different Approaches to Splitting Sleep
Several methods exist for dividing sleep:
- Biphasic Sleep: This involves a longer sleep period at night and a shorter nap during the day, or splitting nighttime sleep into two segments. Sleep Foundation explains this approach.
- Polyphasic Sleep: This extreme approach divides sleep into multiple, short naps throughout the day, aiming for significantly reduced total sleep time. However, experts warn against this as adults require at least 7 hours of consolidated sleep. This information is supported by a news article that mentions the risks of insufficient sleep.
- Segmented Sleep: This encompasses any method where sleep is broken into two or more periods with waking periods in between. WebMD describes segmented sleep as breaking up sleep into two or more shifts.
Potential Benefits and Drawbacks
- Benefits: A study in Nature found that splitting sleep between night and daytime naps didn't negatively impact morning performance, even with reduced nighttime sleep. Nature Article
- Drawbacks: Irregular sleep patterns can lead to health issues. Quora mentions health consequences associated with irregular sleep patterns. Insufficient total sleep, as seen in polyphasic sleep, can have major consequences.
Considerations
The optimal sleep schedule depends on individual needs and preferences. While splitting sleep might work for some, it's crucial to prioritize getting sufficient total sleep (at least 7 hours for adults). If you are considering altering your sleep schedule, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended.
