When I was in the Army
It’s not just the Army. Science and common wisdom both have been telling us we need more sleep for centuries, while pop culture glorifies staying up all night. Let’s look at why sleep is important, and more to the point – how it affects us in a survivalist context?
On a physical level, sleep is time for your body to heal, resupply itself with oxygen, and grow new muscle tissue. It allows the various hormones flowing through your body to normalize and increase or decrease future production as necessary. Our bodies know this even if we choose to ignore it. When you are sick or injured, your body will secrete hormones to help you sleep more. Without sleep, our motor skills suffer and we are more likely to become sick.
Mentally, put into internet terms, it is your brain’s time to delete browsing history, defrag, clear cookies, and archive data. Without sleep, we become disoriented, confused, and potentially ill mentally. We have problems handling detail oriented tasks, using tools, or coping with stress. The difference between the amount of sleep our body needs and the amount of sleep we’re getting annually is sometimes referred to as our sleep deficit.
Some studies suggest that a majority of those suffering from depression
Confusing things even more, there are studies saying too much sleep can lead to depression, that wanting to sleep too much is a symptom of depression, and that more sleep can cure depression – so who the hell knows. One thing is certain, there is a relationship of some sort between depression and sleep, and I’m betting healthy sleep practices don’t cause depression and won’t hurt depression either.
The question about whether getting more sleep now to make up for a past deficit is helpful is a tricky one. The answer is yes and no. If I’m only getting 4 hours sleep a night, increasing that number to 7-8 will most certainly have positive short term and long term effects. But if I increase my sleep to 10 hours a day will I get even more benefit? Probably not.
So why am I suggesting that sleep should be part of a preparedness plan? Think about some of the things I listed above:
Without sleep, we begin to lose the ability to:
1. Focus
2. Deal with stress
3. Stay mentally fit
4. Use tools
5. Heal; and
6. Stay well
Aren’t all of those things essential for survival? With sleep, on the other hand, we can do all of those things much more effectively.
Preppers and survivalists talk about storing food, ammo, tools, barter items, cash, and other things of monetary worth like silver and gold. We all agree that starting to do these things after SHTF or TEOTWAWKI will be a lot harder and a lot less productive than doing them now. The same thing is true with sleep. In shorthand, proper sleep equals greater readiness. We prep now for what comes later.
This article says we need between 6 – 8 hours a night and no more (actually suggesting that 8.5 hours is worse for you than 5 hours). But the study only looks at how long we live based on how much sleep we get – not quality of life or ability to function. This article suggests that adults need 7-9 hours of sleep. In other words, the answer – according to science – is unclear.
Science, however, has also shown us that our sleep hormone production centers respond mostly to two stimuli – food intake and available light. We see this with our common sense as well. Animals sleep more in the winter when there is less daylight, at least in part because food is scarce and sleeping slows metabolism and helps to conserve calories.
Additionally there are fewer hours of daylight in the winter, and living organisms respond to darkness with sleep hormones. Millions of dollars are being funneled into studies about Seasonal Affective Disorder – the phenomenon where certain people get more depressed during the winter because of the lack of light. Here, as in so many other areas, we humans seem to have forgotten that we are animals too. We need to do what the animals do. We should probably sleep more in winter (8-9 hours) and less in summer (6.5 – 8 hours).
Put simply, adequate sleep equals better readiness. We need to be sleeping NOW to prepare for THEN. We need to do what our bodies are telling us to do and we need to understand that what our bodies tell us gets adjusted by the season, our diets, and our needs. Get good sleep and do what Mother Nature tells us … sounds like common sense to me.
In the end, we’ll be better prepared for what’s coming and better able to handle what is already here.
{ 15 comments }
Not just sleep….. rest!
Bob
III
Great article, if you don't emplement a sleep plan, your people will lose focus, be ineffective, and fall asleep when they should be alert. In the Army we would rotate duties every 2-4 hours within three man teams – one person on perimeter security, one person on maintenance/work, and one person sleeping. If you overwork everyone, the person on security will eventually fall asleep and get everyone killed.
Great post.
We live in a day and age where we are bombarded – from literally every angle, with information. TV, Internet, radio, stores, gaming, iPods, text messaging & Internet capable phones and more – all vying for a place in our conscious mind.
Sadly, we have become dependent on many of these devices.
We may take all of this wonderful technology for granted but it definitely takes it toll on us. Maybe this is one advantage of the SHTF – the reduction of the frivolous information! (That was a joke)
As the post states, sleep is vital to day to day survival.
However, equally as important is exercise. You or an audience member should do a post regarding the (extreme) value of exercise. It is not only important for your body but equally as important for your mental outlook. BTW, I am talking about simple exercise, enough to get the blood flowing throughout the brain & body, not 3 hours at the gym!
Thanks for letting me guest post sir!
A special thanks to Rnager Squirrel and M.D. for keeping this the best blog!
During the weekend, I can catch up on my sleep and get about 9 hours. During the week, I get about 5 hours, waking up early to get my children ready for school, and doing some early morning shopping (love those emptied grocery stores – maybe 6 – 10 of us shoppers in them!). By Friday, I am dragging a$$, I can definitely feel it.
Hello,
What would happen to the US military after a total collapse? I can't seem to find an answer so that's why I pose this question. Wouldn't they just install martial law until things got better? Wouldn't they help the country get back on its feet?
Thx
I have slept for hours in a gas mask and also slept through rocket attacks. People without sleep after not too long (I think 24 hours) make decisions very comparable to those who are drunk.
Great article – nicely written, very useful. After the first year with our first baby, while I am amazed at how little sleep I've been able to get by on, I am very aware of how having 20 minute naps can recharge the batteries. When I go backcountry camping, I find myself having a nap around noon, after waking up early (as I tend to do out in the wilderness).
Cheers,
Mungo
RANGER SQUIRREL,GREAT ARTICLE.FROM JAY IN NC
Great post Ranger Squirrel,
Great points on the .50 cal blanks,(and ryan's rocket attacks). Those of us who have been in the military definitely know what it's like taking sleep deprivation to it's limits.
I think focus is one of the largest points you brought up. My experience took me to the M-60 range for re-qualification, on 2 hrs sleep in the last 2 1/2 days. I barely hit anything. I remember the front post looking like a black fuze ball.
So for the Rambo's…get the right amount of sleep if you expect to be victorious when it comes time to defend your shelves. I'm sure you didn't buy all that ammo just for cover fire accuracy.
Good rest to you all……..
Dean in Mich……..
One of the modern U.S. Army's tenants on sleep is a minimum of 4 hours uninterrupted sleep or minimum of 5 hours interrupted sleep per 24 hours period. Of course, thats frequently not possible….but that is what they recommend. For short term help, more calories helps, but not for long.
This is an excellent post. I would like to say that we must stop listening to those that think depression is a big part of a lack of sleep and start looking at what happens when having no sleep or little of it does on us as individuals and also upon our family members and this is because no two people will be the same under every circumstance. In this way, if one is not too tired and is more aware that maybe everyone around them needs a bit more sleep then they will be better able to compensate for others when the time comes. For example, if some are watching over the home or camp at night in shifts of 8, 12 or even longer hours and those that are in bed may not have had even an hour of sleep before they are called upon to help defend the camp or the grounds, should defending your encampment go on for many hours, then there will be a real lack of sleep all the way around. There may also be a need to still remain awake after a battle because of the threat of a return of that enemy. You can bet there will be many tired individuals after the fact not only physically but also mentally, exhausted personal resources can and many times are a bad thing. Since the experts have shown that they don't really know, as was stated in your article and I know this to be true, that should send us all a hint that they are not experts but they are humans like the rest of and they were not put here on earth to examine everything and try to convince everyone of what they 'think' is true. The effects of sleep deprivation were studied many years ago in laboratories, not under real-life circumstances, and when it gets bad enough, hallucinations set in but they can go away when sleep has been induced. Sometimes the process of bringing the mind back to a normal state can take some time but in survival situations it's vital to have as many on your side of the fence as is possible and no life is expendible. As a result, I would make sure to have a supply of hops tincture around as it's a sedative and can help calm nerves in times of stress which leads to worry and other natural responses and it also helps one to sleep. If hops are not an option for some then dried Passion Flower tincture may help and there are no side nor long-lasting effects such as those medicators/sedators prescribed by legal drug dealers (doctors). 10-minute naps throughout the day also work when time is of the essence. I'd much rather play it safe and be able to deal with any situation including the lack of sleep, my self, when TSHTF.
Anons 9:26 AM
You got that little rotation thing out of the Patriots book didn't you? That book is good and all but is so annoying to hear people quote stuff out of it like it was there idea.
There is also the issue of Sleep Disorders. They are more common than many people realize. If you wake up in the middle of the night often – especially after a nightmare with your heart beating fast and gasping for air, you could be suffering from Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea can lead to high blood pressure and possible heart attacks. Needless to say, it can also make you very tired during the day.
Sleep Apnea can be diagnosed at a Sleep Study Center. It requires an overnight stay, hooked up to all sorts of electrodes and other sensors to monitor your sleep behavior. You will need to get a referral from your Primary Care Physician and most health insurances pay for most of it.
Treatment consists of wearing a mask while sleeping that provides a constant air pressure to keep the soft palate open. After a period of time on this therapy, the risks to your health are reduced AND you start feeling rested again. Reducing your body weight has also been found to improve or correct Sleep Apnea. (W)
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