This is My Excuse For Sleeping 12 Hours a Day

And actually, speaking from experience, I know this really works:

If you're facing a problem you can't get your head around, you might be told to sleep on it. Now scientists have shown that the advice is more than just an old wives' tale.

Apparently sleep strengthens the memory and helps the brain extract themes and rules from the masses of information we soak up during the day.

Lead researcher Bob Stickgold, professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School, said: "We're not just stabilising memories during sleep. We're extracting the meaning. Sleep helps us extract rules from our experiences. It's like knowing the difference between dogs and cats, even if it's hard to explain."

I know this is true because I use it a lot in my writing; if I write myself into a corner I'll often think about what I want to solve just before I go to sleep, and when I wake I'll have, if not a perfect solution, at least some new way to look at the problem. It really does help.

The secret is you actually have to get a real night's sleep -- i.e., real rest in which you let your brain mellow out. An anxiety-filled nap is not going to help matters much. Just sharing my thoughts on the matter.

I slept very well last night, thank you very much.

Tags: Sleep, Creativity, Sleep that's where I'm a Viking!

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 4 comments: (Add your own)

#4 Comment from mavarin
2/25/07 11:06 PM | Permalink

The more I read about the benefits of seep,the more I think I should try it sometime. ;)
#3 Comment from monponsett
2/25/07 10:23 PM | Permalink

I was sleeping about 14 hours a day before I decided to quit painkillers after (one of my) surgeries last year. Keep in mind, I was augmenting what the doctor gave me with stuff I had Big L get me for $300 and a plate of cookies. I was in and out of painkiller abuse fairly quickly, and was more Lame Stacey than Lane Staley.

Still, I was a housewife who had a nanny anyhow. I was doing the drugs more for pain management than fun, but my nervous system cared very little for the act's motivation. Then my neck got better, and the problem sort of worked itself out.

If any of you more behaved people need sleep and can't get it, I'd recommend a big fat shot of the Q, or perhaps a sexual rampage. As I'm reluctant to diagnose from afar, I can only tell you what works for me.
#2 Comment from penquins97
2/25/07 5:59 PM | Permalink

that not just that all that s*** is stupid.
#1 Comment from ajandersonnotary
2/25/07 2:38 PM | Permalink

This is very true. I study every day and usually go to bed around 7:30 or 8pm. I get up early around 3:30 or 4 am so I can cram a little for exams and quizzes in my 8 am classes and usually the material comes to me quickly in the morning because I got a full night's rest. Whatever I was looking at the night before becomes easier to remember after seven or eight hours of restful sleep.

AJ in SF

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This is My Excuse For Sleeping 12 Hours a Day