-Sleep

1. Set your goal, and just do it.
So you’ve decided that you want to use the uberman. Don’t let anything get in the way of your goal. Set it, do it. No excuses. You will feel like going to sleep, but stick to your original plan. I’ve made the mistake of laying down for “a little while” just because it feels so good. It’s possible to handle it and lay down for quite a bit, but what’s the point of taking the risk. It could end up being a tactical blunder like it was with me.

2. Do what you need to do to wake up.
Alarm rings, boom. Jump out of bed, go outside, get in the shower. Whatever works for you. Personally I just get up, turn off my alarm [which is at the feet of my bed, I stand up and walk over to turn it off so that I don't just turn it off and lay down for " a little bit ".] and get to doing something. I can just go sit at my computer, get some food, anything but sleep.

3. Have a large or consistant to do list.
Your list of things to do doesn’t necessarily need to be huge and thorough. It doesn’t even need to be written out, although it would help. You just have to be completely sure that the tasks on here will keep you awake and busy for a long time. Make sure you have some backups for critical moments, shadowboxing is a good one. Just keep in mind some alternate things you can do incase you hit a rough patch.

4. Have something to chew on or drink.
I like varied nuts and sunflower seeds. They aren’t filling yet they keep you busy. I’ve found that it’s pretty much impossible to fall asleep while I’m eating. I could be drinking water or chewing seeds and it will keep me up as long as I eat/drink.

5. Sleep on time, wake on time.
If for some reason you don’t manage to do it by a few minutes, it’s ok. Just make sure you don’t make a habit of this.

6. Don’t lay down.
Unless it’s nap time. As I’ve said before this usually leads to a debacle. It feels good at time but if all of a sudden you wake up a few hours later it sucks.

7. Get some assistance.
Have a friend that can help you out? Will call you when you’re supposed to be awake? Check on you? Even better a partner that will go through it with you. Any of this will make it a lot easier.

8. Don’t rely on TV to keep you up.
At least for me if I’m starting to fall asleep/having microsleeps tv won’t snap me out of it. I could go play some Starcraft or shadowbox for a bit and then watch an anime or a movie or something. That way will work. I can also do it if I have something to chew on, but I wouldn’t count on it as something to do in a critical situation.

9. Use a schedule.
It would be a lot easier if you have a schedule to adhear to. Fill up every minute of the day. The more busy you keep yourself the easier it will all be. Bake some bread from scratch. Make some muffins. Send me pictures of these concoctions so I can laugh at you too if it ends up looking like a slab of pavement.

10. Prepare.
Get yourself all the necessary things you will need to stay up. Water, nuts, sunflower seeds, whatever you choose to use. Get your schedule up if you decide to have one, let people know you can’t be disturbed. Get your alarms set. Prepare, prepare, prepare.

Filed under: Uberman Log