As a member of the Buzzfeed Motion Pictures Staff, Ryan Bergara decided to undergo a highly unique experiment. He was going to make a major change to his sleeping schedule. We are all well aware of the benefits that are associated with getting a good night’s sleep and even the act of sprawling out in a comfortable bed to do nothing is good for the body. Our lifespan becomes longer and our memories tend to improve.
While most of us sleep in the traditional monophasic pattern where we receive eight hours of rest and remain awake for the remaining 16 hours of the day, there are other cultures who view things differently. Biphasic sleeping patterns are common in Latin American culture. This is where people will sleep for five hours and take what is known as a “siesta” during the day.
These naps are refreshing and rejuvenating and Ryan was ready to find out what all of the fuss was about. He was not going to emulate the biphasic sleeping patterns, though. He decided that he was going take things to the next level by breaking up his sleep cycle even more. Ryan elected to sleep for four and a half hours each night and would supplement this rest with a couple of quick naps during the day.
Even after consulting with UCLA sleep expert Dr. Avidan, who staunchly believes that the human body needs seven hours of sleep per night, Ryan elected to push on. The doctor he consulted with also warned him about the short term effects of this lifestyle. For the first few days, Ryan did find it difficult to push through. A few more days passed and things were not getting any better.
He began to become ill and a leg injury that he had incurred at the gym was healing very slowly. This made it very hard for him to concentrate at work and it was definitely affecting his job performance. Eventually, he had to admit that Dr. Avidan was correct. By day seven, he was ready to give in and go back to his old sleep schedule.
If you would like to learn more about Ryan’s experiment, please be sure to check out the video below. This is one clip that you certainly won’t want to miss. Take a moment to pass it along to your friends and loved ones as soon as possible!