Thursday, May 02, 2013

You can go to sleep but the quality of sleep changes.


For the last 5 years or so I have been watching my favorite British comedy just before going to sleep. Father Ted, for example. The theory was that if you were exposed to something new before sleep, you would be excited. I was afraid that I would then be unable to sleep.

About one month ago, I started to experiment. I read new books, listened to new audio, watched new video. And presto! I could actually sleep, usually after 5 minutes or so (yes, I AM a very sleepy person by nature, especially after a drink or two). I got excited for sure, but sleepiness usually had a control over me. I would be overcome, and lose my consciousness straightaway after closing my MacBook air (or often even before closing the lid, followed by battery outage).

However I noticed something interesting. The quality of my sleep seems to change. I have dreams more often, and there seems to be this vivid sensation all the time. I do not have sufficient data or control to claim that this is due to the exposure to new information before sleep. Even so, I feel like a child.

1 comment:

(ma)gog said...

You are certainly a scientist by nature, trying to put everything into an experiment in every possible way! I am sure that your "new" experiences before going to sleep are affecting the quality of your sleep. I don't know if you are actually going to collect the precise data of your dreams and experiences during your sleep or not, but if you do, I am looking forward to it like a child expecting to watch the second half of the exciting scientific film!!