# So, you don't have to sleep anymore, now what? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 19, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436 "2005-09-19T22:37:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/21 "2005-09-20T04:10:55Z")
God, all I can say is I’ve always thought sleep was a waste of time. If I didn’t have to spend my whole life earning a living and could actually have 50-60 more hourse per week to myself I might not feel that way. But as it is, yeah, sleep is such a waste of good time. Other than that, just want to point out to **Metacom** that indeed people’s utility bills would probably increase because most of us tend to turn the thermostat down (or up, depending on the season) at night - or turn the a/c or heater off altogether. But I don’t think it would be significant, and since we’d all be working 16 hours a day anyway it wouldn’t matter. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/22 "2005-09-20T04:56:53Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Nancy Kress wrote an interesting trilogy based on that premise. Actually, the first book, [Beggars in Spain](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0380718774/104-6394205-8710339?v=glance) is the strongest. I thought the short story was much better than the novel. Not needing sleep sounds so unromantic. Who wouldn’t want to spend time in a cozy bed surrounded by crisp sheets and a thick duvet while snuggling in your significant other’s arms? I like how sleep divides each day into an entire separate experience. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/23 "2005-09-20T05:03:02Z")
Would I take them? Absolutely! Would I ever choose to sleep? Definitely! Especially whenever I was sick. If you don’t sleep, you effectively suffer with your cold half again as long! Would I allow children under my care to take them? NO! NO! NO! Have a Terrible Two who is up 24 hours a day? That way lies murder and madness. ---
**Author:** ![Sarah\_Woodruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sarah\_Woodruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah_Woodruff)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/24 "2005-09-20T08:22:04Z")
I’d buy shares in a coffee-bean company. 🙂 Would I forego sleep? I dunno. It would be good to have that extra 60 hours a week to do the things that you want to do, that you currently have to squeeze into the weekends because you spend most awake time at work. I like to write and I have a notebook with all these undeveloped ideas jotted down, and I never get round to doing anything with them. I’d use the time for that. What would be great would be to introduce places that were open all night - like bars, except that you could do a lot more there than just drink and chat up people - like a cross between a bar, a library, a science lab, an art gallery, a social club… so you could use the time to meet interesting people and play around with ideas that could be potentially beneficial or even profitable. Most people just don’t have the time for that, at the moment. But on the other hand, the lack of downtime would possibly send me :eek: 😃 :eek: (stark raving mad). Maybe six months awake, and six months not on the anti-sleep pills. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/25 "2005-09-20T13:56:36Z")
I really like sleep. So maybe I’d only take a half dose and sleep from 1am to 5am. Plenty of time for fun night activities and Conan O’Brian watching, plenty of time in the morning to go to the gym or walk the dog, and plenty of time cuddled up in a warm cozy bed with **Bird Man**. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/26 "2005-09-20T13:59:06Z")
I’d definitely take them. For right now, I’d probably get a second part-time job. And take classes to major in a better career. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/27 "2005-09-20T14:02:29Z")
First thought: I’d read. Second thought: Get another full-time job. I’m lame. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/28 "2005-09-20T14:10:15Z")
I’m even more lame. I’d spend more time here, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/29 "2005-09-20T14:20:14Z")
Then wages would drop, because more working hours would be available. You’d have to labor **longer** to make ends meet. Welcome to the 16 hour workday, people. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/30 "2005-09-20T14:36:42Z")
I’d probably just do more of the things I already do. Maybe pick up some new hobbies too. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/31 "2005-09-20T14:44:23Z")
I only sleep about four hours a night at the moment; I don’t know how I’d get everything done otherwise, but yes, I could do with another four hours most of the time. I would still choose to sleep sometimes though. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/32 "2005-09-20T14:55:22Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Then wages would drop, because more working hours would be available. > You’d have to labor **longer** to make ends meet. > > Welcome to the 16 hour workday, people. Ah, but with people working longer, more total wealth will be generated - doctors can treat more people, factory workers can produce more stuff, and so on. After a bumpy transistion period, I would expect most people to be better off fiscally in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/33 "2005-09-20T18:55:09Z")
Would that mean that tiredness in general could be eliminated? If so, I’d probably end up partying a ridiculous amount more, for less money (energy drinks = essential at parties). I’d work full-time in addition to being a full-time student. Also, hopefully, be able to write more and do better in school, since I wouldn’t be doing my homework at Way Past Exhaustion. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/34 "2005-09-20T19:22:30Z")
> [@wasson](#): > > I would absolutely use it. With the extra 8 hours or so in my day, I’d work on creating a business that would help me quit my job. I’d adopt a bunch of hobbies that interest me that I don’t currently have time for. I’d exercise more. > > Someone needs to get to work inventing one of those pills. Has no one here heard about Modafinil? > **[It's Wake-Up Time](https://www.wired.com/2003/11/sleep/)** > > Kiss your pillow good-bye. A new breed of drugs promises to do for drowsiness what Prozac did for depression.In January 2003, US Air Force majors William Umbach and Harry Schmidt faced court-martial after a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan that... ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/35 "2005-09-20T21:07:06Z")
Wow, great link Toadspittle! I didnt’ see that when I made the OP, but it almost looks like it. One thing it doesn’t really mention if it is safe for long term use. If you stay awake for a full week, wouldn’t your mind still suffer from lack of REM? Wasn’t there a Star Trek episode about how something was keeping people from getting deep sleep and though they felt rested and rejuvinated, they were slowly going insane? Can’t remember which one that was, but it would be a concern. What would the long term effects of not sleeping be if the only thing the drug did was keep you non-drowsy. On the other hand, it would be cool even to sleep only 8 hours every other day or so. ---
**Author:** ![JeffyDMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JeffyDMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffyDMan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/36 "2005-09-20T21:25:56Z")
I would: Play WoW more, because I’m a freaking addict. I’d spend a ton more time with my super-wonderful girlfriend. 😃 I would start working more on my person website and [space-sim.org](http://space-sim.org) (gaming site i’m slowly slugging around). I would… drool on stuff more. Yeah, because drooling is an important part of my daily activities. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/37 "2005-09-20T22:15:19Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I only sleep about four hours a night at the moment; I don’t know how I’d get everything done otherwise, but yes, I could do with another four hours most of the time. I would still choose to sleep sometimes though. Oops; to clear up any ambiguity; I mean that I could do with an additional four hours of functional consciousness, not another four hours of sleep. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436/38 "2005-09-21T02:48:16Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > Wow, great link Toadspittle! I didnt’ see that when I made the OP, but it almost looks like it. One thing it doesn’t really mention if it is safe for long term use. If you stay awake for a full week, wouldn’t your mind still suffer from lack of REM? Wasn’t there a Star Trek episode about how something was keeping people from getting deep sleep and though they felt rested and rejuvinated, they were slowly going insane? Can’t remember which one that was, but it would be a concern. > > What would the long term effects of not sleeping be if the only thing the drug did was keep you non-drowsy. > > On the other hand, it would be cool even to sleep only 8 hours every other day or so. This paper (on [modafinil.com](http://modafinil.com)) implies that REM rebound (when deprived of REM sleep and then allowed to sleep again, your body–or any higher vertebrate’s–goes into an intense, protracted period of REM sleep, apparently to recover) is greatly decreased for modafinil users, as compared to amphetamine or placebo users. But it doesn’t sound like it eliminates entirely the negative effects and subsequent rebound of skipping REM sleep–merely reduces them. > **[How to Sleep on Modafinil | A-Z Guide](https://www.modafinil.com/how-to-sleep-on-modafinil/)** > > How to sleep on Modafinil? In the #1 GUIDE, you’ll find out why it’s hard to fall asleep when taking nootropics. Then we’ll detail research-based solutions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-have-to-sleep-anymore-now-what/322436.md?page=1)