Jan 25 , 2020
By Kidist Yidnekachew
Last week, I had to wake up late at night, because my son was crying. My love for him did not change the fact that I was deeply irritated that I had to wake up before finishing my sleep. If it was physically possible and had I been capable of functioning with very little sleep, I would have taken from the 26 years we humans are believed to spend sleeping and allocated it to the time I spend with him.
Almost all people in the world spend a third of our lives asleep. It is the one activity that consumes most of our time, making us prisoners of our beds. I am no exception. I take my sleep time seriously. I do not negotiate when it comes to it, and anything that comes between me and my sleep is my enemy.
However, there is always an exception to the rule. In this case, they are known as "short sleepers"- not to be confused with sleep deprivation. The former function normally with less than a normal amount of sleep. To me, these are aliens.
There are about 20 true short sleepers around the world, according to Christopher Jones, professor of clinical neurology at the University of Utah. Their circadian rhythm is different from the rest of us.
“Their moods (very upbeat) and their metabolism (they're thinner than average, even though sleep deprivation usually raises the risk of obesity). They also seem to have a high tolerance for physical pain and psychological setbacks,” he stated.
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Leonardo da Vinci were believed to be short sleepers. For years I have been trying to discover their secrets. After I read in a blog that a person can trick their minds into thinking they have gotten enough sleep, I tried to do it. But then I realised tricking my mind into thinking that would mean I would not need to sleep to compensate the amount of sleep I lost. But I would rather get actual sleep than tricking my mind into thinking I've slept.
But I had always imagined all that I - or any of us - could accomplish had we been capable of functioning with little sleep. Most of us have tied up schedules divided between work or school and leisure. The majority of our daytime is spent on activities required for our survival.
Not many of us take the time from our busy schedules to carry out activities that interest us. When we finally get home from our daily routines, we just want to rest and sleep. Sure, some people take their work to their homes or even as tired as they are still find the time to read, watch movies and converse with their family members.
I often imagine how cutting my sleep time short by one or two hours could have affected my life differently. I can only imagine how enlightened I could have been had I spent time reading, researching and learning new things every day instead of going to bed early. I can imagine the happiness I would have brought to my family had I sacrificed the extra hour or two to do something memorable with them instead of jumping to bed early.
I would have built strong relationships with friends had I given the time to really listen and talk to my friends even after a busy day. I would have kept myself entertained while learning something had I not been sleeping in the middle of watching movies.
I can imagine all the great things I could have done if it was not for the love of my sleep. But even after saying all that, it is hard to keep myself awake when all I want to do is sleep.
Even as I was writing this article, I was debating whether or not to sleep before finishing it. For once, I prevailed, and here we are.
PUBLISHED ON
Jan 25,2020 [ VOL
20 , NO
1030]
Viewpoints | Dec 25,2021
Sunday with Eden | Sep 30,2023
Life Matters | Feb 08,2020
Covid-19 | Mar 21,2020
Exclusive Interviews | Jan 22,2022
Editorial | Jul 20,2019
My Opinion | Jun 29,2019
Commentaries | Feb 04,2023
Life Matters | Mar 12,2022
Radar | Mar 06,2021
Photo Gallery | 96536 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 88817 Views | Apr 26,2019
My Opinion | 67133 Views | Aug 14,2021
Commentaries | 65750 Views | Oct 02,2021
Feb 24 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
Abel Yeshitila, a real estate developer with a 12-year track record, finds himself unable to sell homes in his latest venture. Despite slash...
Feb 10 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
In his last week's address to Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) painted a picture of an economy...
Jan 7 , 2024
In the realm of international finance and diplomacy, few cities hold the distinction that Addis Abeba doe...
Sep 30 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO
On a chilly morning outside Ke'Geberew Market, Yeshi Chane, a 35-year-old mother cradling her seven-month-old baby, stands amidst the throng...
Apr 20 , 2024
In a departure from its traditionally opaque practices, the National Bank of Ethiopia...
Apr 13 , 2024
In the hushed corridors of the legislative house on Lorenzo Te'azaz Road (Arat Kilo)...
Apr 6 , 2024
In a rather unsettling turn of events, the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (C...
Mar 30 , 2024
Ethiopian authorities find themselves at a crossroads in the shadow of a global econo...
Apr 20 , 2024
Ethiopia's economic reform negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are in their fourth round, taking place in Washington, D...
Apr 20 , 2024 . By BERSABEH GEBRE
An undercurrent of controversy surrounds the appointment of founding members of Amhara Bank after regulat...
An ambitious cooperative housing initiative designed to provide thousands with affordable homes is mired...
Apr 20 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Ethiopia's juice manufacturers confront formidable economic challenges following the reclassification of...
Loading your updates...