Well, I just wrote a long response and then hit the dreaded "red x" at the top to cremate the entire post. If it weren't important, I'd just forget it. However, since many of you have admitted that you have had some serious "near misses" I might add a few words of my opinion (with some facts to back it up) and guidance.
1. Sleep is among the 5 most important needs of the human being. In order of importance they are: air; water; sleep; food; sex
Considering this hierarchy, one needs to give sleep its due when considering the issue of safety not only of self but of others.
Need I remind you of how miserable you would be for the few minutes you were screaming as the plane in which you are flying has a pilot who has fallen asleep and is diving toward the ground or the middle of the ocean at night!
2. Research has shown that a person with only 6 hours of sleep functions at the same on testing as a person with a .08% blood alcohol level (i.e. legally drunk)
3. After 48 hours of sleep deprivation most humans are legitimately psychotic. Yup...completely out of their mind. Don't you hope you don't have to work with someone like that in a high risk activity?
How many of us kept our babies on a strict schedule and remember how miserable they were when they got "off their schedule"? Why have we changed away from that schedule for ourselves?
My guess is that the best advice would be get 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Studies show that more than 10 hours is associated with problems that shorten life such as cancer, etc.
The more important issue is that we should be getting that 8-10 hours of sleep every night at exactly the same time, eating at exactly the same times every day and working at the same times every day. While I know that is the "fantasy world" it is the best option.
The worst thing for us is that stupid alarm clock. No matter what we think it is not a good idea to wake up other than naturally. Our sun will do the job if the pineal gland is working properly.
Hope this helps,
Trim sends
//BT//