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Comment by pamelafox | Hacker News Reader

I often get told that I don't sleep enough (more like 6 than 8, if that), but for me, my dreams get stranger the longer I sleep, and my day is happier if I can wake up without strange dreams lingering in my head. For example, last night I slept about 8 hours (probably due to wine the night before), and my final dream involved me trying to evade certain death in a circus. I'd prefer to start off my day on cheerier notes. :)

I don't use an alarm as I believe in waking up when your body wants you to, after its natural cycles end. Or at least, thats what usually works for me.

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I've also noticed that my dreams get crazier and more vivid the longer I sleep - the dream I have at the 7 hour mark is usually quickly forgotten after waking, but the ones I've had after about 11 hours of sleep are vivid, realistic, long, and often stick with me for months. Occasionally years.

I tend to embrace those dreams, however, and seek them out. I feel like a good portion of my creativity comes from waking up relaxed after a vivid dream. Even if I don't remember the dream itself, I feel like it puts me into a mental state where I'm more open to new and strange ideas.

You can get a sleep cycle alarm which will take care of that. Sleep Cycle for iOS works, with the possible problem that you need a power cord long enough to put the device on your bed.

I saw a documentary about sleep a few years ago. The main idea was that a sleep cycle lasts approximately 90 minutes, and you feel better rested when you avoid waking up in the middle of a cycle.

Since then, I always set my alarm clock to sleep a multiple of 90 minutes: 6h, 7h30min, 9h... (6 hours more often than not, but I might change this, having read this article...)

I used to dream all the time. I haven't dreamt since I started doing this. I guess I still have dreams, but I never remember them. I think you only remember dreams when you are woken up in the middle of REM sleep (in the middle of a cycle).

A nice benefit of my current sleep pattern, is that I fall asleep very fast, instead of waiting in bed for up to 1 hour like I used to. I hope it's not because I'm sleep deprived, though...

Don't listen to siblings. :) If you can afford to _free run_ (which google for) your sleep just do it.

I've read that people sleep less deeply when they've had alcohol.

Maybe if you used an alarm you'd be forced to wake up during a part of your sleep cycle where you're not dreaming, and so won't remember dreaming.

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