Sleeping in Extremes: Challenges, Strategies & Opportunities

Expedition leaders, endurance athletes (and their support teams), military officers and medical professionals faced with a relentless workload face a similar challenge: How do you balance the need sleep for sleep with the drive to achieve more?

According to longitudinal studies, adults need 7-9 hours sleep for optimal health. Our internal biorhythms work most effectively when we’re active by day, and resting by night, and operating on a regular sleep-wake routine. And yet, some humans are capable of extraordinary feats of physical and mental endurance, with little or no sleep.

This talk aims to raise awareness of the importance of sleep planning in preparation for any endurance challenge, or expedition. The content was inspired by research for ocean rowers and the Royal Marines, but draws from a number of different disciplines to explore:

How can sleep deprivation influence expedition outcomes?
Can we ‘hack’ sleep? If so, how?
What universal strategies can be used to help you fall asleep, or stay asleep?
We will discuss strategies and techniques to promote better quality sleep which can be applied in everyday practice, as well as adverse environments.