Comments on: Peak Sleep http://postgrowth.org/peak-sleep/ The End of Bigger. The Start of Better. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:53:12 +0000 hourly 1 By: Drew Dawson http://postgrowth.org/peak-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Drew Dawson Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:55:45 +0000 http://postgrowth.org/?p=173#comment-102 S, I like the 'idea' of peak sleep but we need to be careful. Since the population is doubling approximately every 30 years then sleep duration for the global population will be increasing. Also, since the global population is getting younger and young people typically sleep more than than older people this will also increase the amount of global sleep. While individual sleep in the developed world is indeed decreasing, it is decreasing on average by only 1 minute per year. As a consequence, peak sleep is unlikely to occur anytime soon. The difficulty with the comparison is that oil has a relatively fixed supply. Sleep does not. But the sentiment is good. Individual peak sleep may be a better idea but that has peaked at 18-20 in males for time immemorial. S,

I like the ‘idea’ of peak sleep but we need to be careful. Since the population is doubling approximately every 30 years then sleep duration for the global population will be increasing. Also, since the global population is getting younger and young people typically sleep more than than older people this will also increase the amount of global sleep. While individual sleep in the developed world is indeed decreasing, it is decreasing on average by only 1 minute per year. As a consequence, peak sleep is unlikely to occur anytime soon. The difficulty with the comparison is that oil has a relatively fixed supply. Sleep does not. But the sentiment is good. Individual peak sleep may be a better idea but that has peaked at 18-20 in males for time immemorial.

]]> By: The Long Lost Sound of Silence - Post Growth http://postgrowth.org/peak-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-84 The Long Lost Sound of Silence - Post Growth Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:18:48 +0000 http://postgrowth.org/?p=173#comment-84 [...] wonder we are so exhausted – not only because of less sleep, but because our brains are constantly having to process the stuff we DON’T want as well as [...] [...] wonder we are so exhausted – not only because of less sleep, but because our brains are constantly having to process the stuff we DON’T want as well as [...]

]]> By: Sharon http://postgrowth.org/peak-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Sharon Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:02:44 +0000 http://postgrowth.org/?p=173#comment-51 Further to this post, Adbusters have designated 8-12 February 2010 as 'Slow Down' week: https://www.adbusters.org/abtv/slow_down_week.html Further to this post, Adbusters have designated 8-12 February 2010 as ‘Slow Down’ week: https://www.adbusters.org/abtv/slow_down_week.html

]]> By: Joshua http://postgrowth.org/peak-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Joshua Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:03:52 +0000 http://postgrowth.org/?p=173#comment-48 Seems like this would definitely bring down the environmental impact of coffee, if we were all getting enough sleep. Speaking from someone who blogs, tweets, designs, and surfs - the internet is a big source of time absorption in my life - and with a 10 month old... what's sleep? I did manage to cut out the coffee, though. It sounds crazy, but it actually helps. I'm a little groggy in the morning, but I feel better overall. Mind you, I do have the occasional yerba mate :) Seems like this would definitely bring down the environmental impact of coffee, if we were all getting enough sleep. Speaking from someone who blogs, tweets, designs, and surfs – the internet is a big source of time absorption in my life – and with a 10 month old… what’s sleep?

I did manage to cut out the coffee, though. It sounds crazy, but it actually helps. I’m a little groggy in the morning, but I feel better overall. Mind you, I do have the occasional yerba mate :)

]]> By: Sharon http://postgrowth.org/peak-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Sharon Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:36:13 +0000 http://postgrowth.org/?p=173#comment-46 Ah - you interpreted this as we have already hit peak sleep and it won't ever be that good again? Maybe my metaphor was not quite accurate - I was thinking more like when do we hit the dizzy heights of nine hours sleep a night?! AND STAY THERE! :) We will know when we look around at staff meetings or fellow commuters and see fresh faces instead of tired ones! Ah – you interpreted this as we have already hit peak sleep and it won’t ever be that good again?

Maybe my metaphor was not quite accurate – I was thinking more like when do we hit the dizzy heights of nine hours sleep a night?! AND STAY THERE! :)

We will know when we look around at staff meetings or fellow commuters and see fresh faces instead of tired ones!

]]> By: Scott http://postgrowth.org/peak-sleep/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Scott Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:43:33 +0000 http://postgrowth.org/?p=173#comment-45 Sharon: I love this new term you've coined here: "Peak Sleep." We've all had the most sleep we'll be getting - and it's all downhill from here! No, seriously: like food, I think sleep is an excellent way of connecting with people's visceral sense of quality of life. Nobody likes frenzied all-nighters - even if it's for a worthy cause. Your example of the Internet is especially apt, and something I'm grappling with currently. How much is enough? How to deal with the flood of data and information washing over me all day every day? What happens if I allow myself to be "uninformed" for a week? Or a month? Or a year? Sharon:

I love this new term you’ve coined here: “Peak Sleep.” We’ve all had the most sleep we’ll be getting – and it’s all downhill from here!

No, seriously: like food, I think sleep is an excellent way of connecting with people’s visceral sense of quality of life. Nobody likes frenzied all-nighters – even if it’s for a worthy cause.

Your example of the Internet is especially apt, and something I’m grappling with currently. How much is enough? How to deal with the flood of data and information washing over me all day every day? What happens if I allow myself to be “uninformed” for a week? Or a month? Or a year?

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