If humans could evolve to not need sleep...

[TheLumpySofaCushion]

Would you be in the 'Yey!' Or 'bugger' camp?

Despite being fascinated with sleep, the history of sleep, and the brain-meld of thinking that the entire human population of the world does some version of a dressing for unconsciousness & lying down ritual, I would HATE to think that my life would no longer have the 'time out' that sleep brings.

Are you the same, or do you think that sleep time could be better spent living your life?

I love sleeping so I'd be quite annoyed! I've just had an afternoon nap and it was glorious.

Wonky - you are my kind of person!

I think that having a baby means that you do evolve not not need sleep......

I've always thought sleep was such a design flaw. I hate feeling tired, hate trying to get to sleep, hate waking up and feeling groggy etc.

However, since having DS I do understand that I couldn't function if he didn't sleep! I'd be on board if we evolved to stop needing sleep at 18.

I have had really terrible insomnia for the last couple of years (mainly since my DS had an asthma attack at nighttime) so, whilst I love sleep, the point of going to bed is often not filled with wonderful hopes of a sleep-filled night ahead. And the several hours I spend awake each night, failing to sleep are not particularly enjoyable either....

Therefore, if sleep was not necessary and I would feel well rested and full of energy, I'm there (however, I would prefer to require sleep and be able to sleep well!)

I'd feel robbed. I love sleep, feeling tired, nodding off, having a little nap, getting into bed...

I love sleep, but worse still I’d have even more hours to fill after I’ve had my walk. (I suppose they aren’t factoring in pandemic boredom when deciding this is a good or bad thing!)

I don’t understand sleep I just don’t. Just why ??
It makes no sense to me I know it’s a ‘rest’ but you’re still breathing , heart beating etc so your organs don’t get a break ! Our brains still function to obviously keeps our nervous system etc going so why do we actually need sleep ?

If we didn't actually need the sleep then I'd say yes please. Imagine all those extra hours! That is of course providing that we wouldn't be expected to work even longer hours!

I like sleep, dreams are good for you as they help you process your thoughts, even if you don't remember them. And I think the days would be long and monotonous without a sleep in between. Can you imagine if kids didn't need sleep? God help us all.

@crystalcherry87

I like sleep, dreams are good for you as they help you process your thoughts, even if you don't remember them. And I think the days would be long and monotonous without a sleep in between. Can you imagine if kids didn't need sleep? God help us all.

Dreams are torture for me I absolutely hate them. Always have. I do wonder if that’s something to do with having asd though ? Since a v young age I’ve had horrific vivid dreams and dreams within dreams within dreams where I ‘wake up’ and think it’s reality but it’s not and it happens multiple times it’s harrowing. When I’ve been particularly stressed i will always have the exact same dream as well I must have had it hundred of times in my life and I hate it. I wish we could evolve to not need sleep

Oh god - in witching hour madness right now and the thought of 24 hours non stop with my children would send me bonkers. Nap and bedtime are basically essential.

Oh, @Covidcleaner - that sounds so hard.

You poor thing. I can see why you'd find no need to sleep a huge improvement ❤️

I love sleep even more since I retired; I can wake up early and turn over for another couple of hours. Bliss!. I never realised how often I'd had to get up before I was properly awake.

I need sleeping time as a break from life/ to stop thinking. If I couldn't have time every 24hrs or so (I work night shifts so don't always get to sleep every 24hrs) to switch off from thinking and hearing my own thoughts, I would be even more inclined to give up on life.

I love sleep.

An afternoon nap is a gift from the gods 😴

I wish I could sleep like a bird. One half brain awake and the other is asleep. And be able to shut both at the same time when I really want sleep

@badlydrawnbear - that break from reality is important, isn't it.

Sleep also breaks time into chunks of days. I suppose the night/day cycle does this too, but I feel it could be hard to have time boundaries if we didn't sleep. And yes to the PP who said we need our kids to sleep for some downtime!

On the flip side, as someone who has struggled with insomnia, I wish I could lie down and rest and feel the same as when I have slept.

@Iwillgotothegym

I love sleep, but worse still I’d have even more hours to fill after I’ve had my walk. (I suppose they aren’t factoring in pandemic boredom when deciding this is a good or bad thing!)

Yes, I was going to say ask me again after covid when I might have something to do or somewhere to go to fill the time.