We're Living Longer and Sleeping Less!

For some reasons these two stories are linked in my brain: From LiveScience, a story on the possible social implications of living much, much longer -- say, twice as long as we do. And from the Economist, a look at how much sleep we really need, and whether one day we can eliminate sleep entirely, without any ill effects. Put these together, and maybe one day we can live to 200, and not have slept for 80 years.

For some idea, that just really strikes me as a bad idea. Not so much the living to 200 idea. I can hang with that, although I'm constantly reminded of the downside of long life that my friend Mykal once pointed out ("I get bored now"). But this no sleep thing concerns me. The first thing I thought was: Oh my God, if children never slept, their parents would murder them. Won't someone please think of the parents? The second thing is that, well, I like to sleep. I would miss it if it was gone.

The third thing is, well, as Mykal said, I get bored now. If you gave me another eight hours in my day for the rest of my life (and then doubled the length of my life) I probably wouldn't know what to do with myself. Of course, other people would know what to do with me -- you can bet employers would be happy to work us a little more -- but if the trade off for sleep is another eight hours punching a clock or doing housework or fretting about how I'm going to pay off my mortgage, well, I'd pass on that and go for the nap. Sleep isn't actually time wasted, and if you're too busy for sleep, that's a handy signal maybe you need to simplify your life if you can.

Think you're ready for an entire sleepless life? Let me know; I'm curious.

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 5 comments: (Add your own)

#5 Comment from psychfun
5/23/06 4:11 PM | Permalink

I have this for my students to learn about. They have no clue about the drastic consequences of lack of sleep.

http://journals.aol.com/psychfun/MeThinksTooMuch/
#4 Comment from monponsett
5/23/06 2:39 PM | Permalink

Thuck fat. I love going to bed. Curling up in a nice, warm bed is a better feeling than any drug, and I've done a few.
#3 Comment from lanurseprn
5/23/06 1:06 PM | Permalink

IF I didn't get fatiged, I could live without sleep. In a heartbeat! I like to sleep when I'm tired....but if I never got tired I'd be in heaven! I'd get all of my things done that I can't seem to get done 'cause I'm too TIRED! So if I could feel refreshed all the time, I would definitely skip sleep.
Pamela
#2 Comment from mavarin
5/23/06 11:48 AM | Permalink

Well, if would help me out a lot to need less sleep, since I already get less sleep than I need. As entertaining as sleep deprivation can be, I'd like to be able to contentrate, and still fit in everything I need to do, say 20 hours of activity a day. - Karen
http:///outmavarin.blogspot.com
#1 Comment from lilredmama1980
5/23/06 10:28 AM | Permalink

I don't think I'll be looking forward to an entire sleepless life. The only time my mind isn't running on one issue or another is when I finally fall asleep. I think I would be interested in that pill that gives you a full nights rest in only 2 hours though cause I'm lucky if I get 6 hours of sleep let alone 8.

~ Tina

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We're Living Longer and Sleeping Less!