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Why I Sometimes Choose Living Over Sleeping

By , on Monday, April 30th, 2007

Sleep

I’ll tell you right now, I rarely get enough sleep (assuming “enough” sleep is 8 hours per night). On the average night, I’ll get 5-6 hours of sleep, and sometimes it’s less than that. And It’s not because I can’t sleep – I hardly ever have trouble falling asleep. No, whenever I stay up past my bedtime, I’m usually doing it for a very specific reason…

I don’t know why, but this is how I’ve been for as long as I can remember. Sleep was always a necessity, but never in a very immediate sense. I’ve been willing to forgo sleep in favor of other things for most of my adult life, a practice that (gone unregulated) can cause some serious problems. Poor performance at work, adverse health effects, etc. just to name a few. Why do I do this to myself?

Well, truth be told, I’m something of a romantic (but not in the sense you probably think). Hopefully, after reading this list, you’ll understand what I mean (but don’t worry – I’ll revisit the ‘romantic’ deal again at the end). So, here are the things for which I will happily and readily skip sleep:

  1. Family and Friends – Ok, so this one is a gimmie. If my wife and I are talking or my son has a cold and can’t sleep, I’ll stay up as last as I have to. If a friend needs my help with something (either his computer is busted or his girlfriend is driving him nuts, whatever) – my family and friends are my most important and highest priority, so I never mind when this type of thing comes up.

  2. Good Conversation – This used to happen quite a bit before we starting having kids, but I’ve spent many nights sitting at a bar or coffeehouse or something and have the person working there say something like, “dude, we closed 30 minutes ago – you need to leave”. Or maybe a friend and I will be chatting away about something and I’ll look down at my phone and see 2:00 am staring back at me. Most of the time, I really don’t care when these things happen. Worst case, I’m tired the next day at work. But I’m tired for what I consider to be a very good reason – investing in a relationship or just plain having fun.
  3. Good Book – No matter what book it is, I suddenly shed all sense of adult responsibility when reading something I really like. This is actually one of my fool-proof methods for determining how much I’m enjoying a particular book : would I kiss off a night’s sleep just to finish this? Obviously, the answer is usually no. But sometimes it isn’t and I’m usually happy I skipped the sleep.
  4. Good Idea – For me, designing and writing computer programs is more than just a job. It’s something I did for fun for many years before doing it professionally. So, I still do a good bit of programming in my spare time for odd projects (like Winstikker or the Two Minute Timer). And if I am really on a tear with a particular project, I’ll look up at 1:00am and scoff, barely breaking stride as I type my code at breakneck speeds. These types of situations are fairly infrequent, but they do pop up on occasional and are usually somewhat unexpected.

I guess I just find sleep to be a completely expendable activity (at least, when faced with something more worthwhile). In a weird way, I really celebrate my decidedly irresponsible behavior. Because I know that when I’m 75 with one foot in the grave, I won’t be thinking to myself “Man, I wish I had skipped all those great nights with friends an slept more…”. So, I guess that’s what I mean by ‘romantic’. I like knowing that when given the option between living life and a couple hours sleep, I almost always choose to live life.

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  • Kristin

    Must Sleep to Live

    You seem to be one of those lucky folks who can get by with very little sleep! That’s great, but it is not an option for all of us. So I will speak for the “Must Sleep to Live” crowd. If I don’t get a decent amount of sleep each night (about seven hours), I am toast. I can’t think straight or accomplish anything. I might not even be able to tell you my name. The best way for me to live a quality life is to make sure that I do get enough sleep. I’m glad you can get by with just a few hours. But it’s not a option for all of us!

  • http://blog.scottjelias.net Scott Elias

    I’m with you. I think when you have Kid #1 you realize how little sleep you can get by with. Even having said that, I will stay up late to have “my time” or “our time” after the kids go to bed. That’s just not something I’m willing to sacrifice. Plus it helps you feel “well-rounded.”

  • Juliet

    I have always said that I can sleep when I am dead, but unfortunately like Kristin I find that my desire to put off sleep is mere wishful thinking. Often I find myself fast asleep in the middle of an interesting movie because my body simply refuses to allow me to stay awake any longer, but I pushed it because I didn’t want to miss out on the social experience.

    However sometimes Monster or Coffee can help me resist this urge to sleep, although more often then not it simply makes me sleep faster.

  • http://www.theoptimizedlife.com Kim Roach

    I can certainly relate to number 3. Just the other night I was up until 1:00 in the morning because I couldn’t pull myself away from Tim Ferriss’ book: The 4 Hour Workweek. But I really didn’t mind. This is one of the best books I have ever read, hands down. Has anyone else had the chance to read this incredible book. If so, I would love to hear your thoughts.

  • brett

    @Kim

    That’s hilarious that you mention that! Tim actually sent me a copy of the book last week and I’m about halfway through it – it’s really a great book.

    Expect a full review in the coming week or so, but for now – get your fix

  • http://www.shainemata.net/2007/05/03/do-you-really-want-to-give-up-13-of-your-life/ Shaine Mata . net › Do you really want to give up 1/3 of your life?

    [...] shift to sleep (assuming you sleep 8 hours a night). I was just reading Cranking Widgets’s Why I Sometimes Choose Living Over Sleeping. Brett Kelly has a good point in pointing out that he chooses life over sleep. He does provide good [...]

  • http://alllnarfedup.com Bryan Villarin

    This is an awesome post. Two days after you wrote this, I actually hung out with this guy I barely knew – for 7 hours! With all the stuff we talked about, it was totally worth it. I’m still alive. :)

    http://allnarfedup.com/2007/05/04/twitter-helped-me-meet-with-a-complete-stranger/

  • http://www.randompiercings.com/blog Pierce

    Oh, how I envy you. Not just because I can’t do this, but because I can’t do this any more. I used to do this (and still do it every chance I get, especially for good conversation–that’s the best, really; I don’t mind staying awake for my family or friends one bit, but to have a really good conversation is a joy) but oh do I pay a price.
    See, I have a condition called obstructive sleep apnea. Basically, while I sleep, my airway closes when it relaxes and I stop breathing; my brain, not happy with the situation, rouses itself and activates the muscles that open my airway, often dozens of times a night.
    I’m sort of lucky–I don’t have a precipitous drop in blood oxygen levels that can occur with it and cause really serious problems, but the problems I have are serious enough: I don’t get enough deep or REM sleep, so I’m tired all the time, to the point of dozing off in the middle of the day, especially when driving or working (for some reason the attention required sets me off), I have memory and cognitive difficulties, and I generally feel crappy.
    Finally, I’m intolerant of positive airway pressure machines, the primary therapy (basically, a thing that blows air into the mouth and/or nose to increase the pressure and hold the airway open), I’ve already had surgery removing my tonsils and uvula (dangling thing at the back of the throat, not the part the dirty minded among you were thinking of) and triming my upper palate. I’m getting a dental appliance to advance my lower jaw and restrain my tongue (which they promise will be more comfortable than it sounds), but if it fails, about all that is left is a tracheotomy (cutting a hole in the throat, famously done in a M*A*S*H episode with a Tom Mix pocketknife and a ball point pen tube).
    All this isn’t to say “feel sorry for me”–I’ve added months, probably, to my life because before the OSA started kicking my ass I could live on 4-5 hours of sleep a night, and reveled in it, and if I ever get over OSA, I’ll revel in it again–but to remind those who still can to appreciate the extra minutes and hours for everything they’re worth. Not to mention thanking heaven for GTD–I don’t know if I could handle my impaired functioning without the efficiency I get from its methodology!

  • http://www.bilerico.com/2007/05/003093.php bilerico.com

    Particularly Pertinent at 3:30 AM…

    A while back on of our past contributors Brylo posted a link to a blog that dealt with issues of productivity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. From time to time when I can’t sleep or have decided to spend a night not sleeping and just hanging out,…

  • http://dittonara.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/100-tips-for-better-life/ 100 Tips for Better Life « printf

    [...] Choose Living Over Sleeping Sometimes. Despite the importance of healthy sleep habits, there are times when it’s good to throw caution to the wind and invest in your life in other ways. [...]

  • http://correlational.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/100-tips-to-improve-your-life/ 100 Tips to Improve Your Life « My Weblog

    [...] Choose Living Over Sleeping Sometimes. Despite the importance of healthy sleep habits, there are times when it’s good to throw caution to the wind and invest in your life in other ways. [...]

  • http://czy6699.wordpress.com/2007/08/05/100-great-tips-to-improve-your-life/ 100 Great Tips to Improve Your Life « Invisible

    [...] Choose Living Over Sleeping Sometimes. Despite the importance of healthy sleep habits, there are times when it’s good to throw caution to the wind and invest in your life in other ways. [...]

  • Matt

    Geez, I bet you look a right state ;)

  • http://www.shapeupamerica.com/2008/02/28/top-100-self-help-self-improvement-guides/ Top 100 Self-help, Self Improvement Guides | Shape Up America

    [...] Choose Living Over Sleeping Sometimes [...]

  • http://www.shapeupamerica.com/2008/03/06/the-most-incredible-ways-to-improve-thyself/ The Most Incredible Ways To Improve Thyself! | Shape Up America

    [...] Choose Living Over Sleeping Sometimes [...]

  • http://www.100bestdatingsites.com/blog/2008/100-simple-ways-to-change-your-life-for-the-better/ Nerds Do It Better » 100 Simple Ways to Change Your Life for the Better

    [...] Know when to lose sleep: Sometimes, you have more important things to do than sleep, but they key is knowing when that should happen. [...]

  • http://davidwourms.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/100-simple-ways-to-change-your-life-for-the-better/ 100 Simple Ways to Change Your Life for the Better « David Wourms’ Weblog

    [...] Know when to lose sleep: Sometimes, you have more important things to do than sleep, but they key is knowing when that should happen. [...]

  • http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/05/10/100-simple-ways-to-change-your-life-for-the-better   100 Simple Ways to Change Your Life for the Better | Cultivate Greatness Personal Development, Leadership Training & Life Hacks

    [...] Know when to lose sleep: Sometimes, you have more important things to do than sleep, but they key is knowing when that should happen. [...]

  • http://www.shapeupamerica.com/2008/07/14/so-many-reasons-to-get-enough-sleep/ So Many Reasons to Get Enough Sleep | Shape Up America

    [...] Choose Living Over Sleeping Sometimes [...]

  • http://iiira.blog.friendster.com/2008/05/100-things/ oxymoronitis » Blog Archive » 100 things

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    [...] Know when to lose sleep: Sometimes, you have more important things to do than sleep, but they key is knowing when that should happen. [...]

  • brian

    Too true!

  • http://www.shapeupamerica.com/2009/05/05/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-rid-of-laziness-and-procrastination/ The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rid of Laziness and Procrastination! | Shape Up America

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