A few weeks ago, I had an epic sleep deprivation experience that I felt worth logging. Owing to a combination of some personal issues and the iPad conundrum, I just couldn’t fall asleep. I have been sleep deprived many times, but this is perhaps the first time I didn’t sleep a minute all night.
Here’s an hour-by-hour log of what happened
The Experience
| Time Range | Log |
|---|---|
| 22:00-00:00 | Tossing and turning without being able to fall asleep. |
| 00:00-01:00 | Walked around, did some laundry folding. |
| 01:00-03:00 | Tossing and turning without being able to fall asleep. |
| 03:00-04:00 | Doomscrolled Reddit, Artifact. |
| 04:00-05:30 | Gave up trying to sleep, got up and had the first coffee of the day. |
| 05:30-06:30 | Had the most amazing run ever. It felt as if the kms were flying by in a blur and my pace throughout was the best it has ever been in recent years. |
| 06:30-07:00 | Cool down and shower |
| 07:00-08:00 | Second coffee of the day |
| 08:00-09:30 | No recollection of what I did. Completely wiped from memory |
| 09:30-10:30 | Went grocery shopping with the wife, had my third coffee of the day. |
| 10:30-11:00 | Came back home and had lunch. Around this time, I started feeling the shakes in my hands. From too much caffeine, rather than from sleep deprivation, I reckon. Also started feeling bouts of irritability. |
| 11:00-14:30 | Watched Munich. Again, I only remember this part in bits and pieces. Not sure why it took so long to finish the movie or what I did in between. |
| 14:30-15:30 | No recollection of what I did. Completely wiped from memory |
| 15:30-16:30 | Sudden feeling of euphoria. Became very happy and wanted to enjoy life. Started writing this post. |
| 16:30-19:00 | Went out with my family to an open mall for dinner. Had a beer, but didn’t feel anything. Was unusually happy throughout. My memory from this trip has lapses. |
| 19:00-20:00 | No recollection of what I did. Completely wiped from memory |
| 20:00-09:00 | Slept for 13 hours, took 2 coffees to get rid of the grogginess. Still felt sleepy all day. |
Overall, the experience was quite similar to one of my marijuana benders, which is to say, not pleasant. Next time I can’t sleep, I will bite the bullet and swallow a pill.