Humans cannot train themselves to sleep with their eyes open like reptiles. The only humans who can sleep with their eyes open are those who suffer from a condition called Nocturnal Lagophthalmos, or have sleep disorders and injuries (such as stroke or facial muscle paralysis). This condition is very dangerous, and sleeping with your eyes open will be bad for your eyesight and your overall health. However, many people's wish to sleep with their eyes open (sleep quietly and reach a different level of consciousness) can be achieved in several other ways. For example, you can achieve a similar effect with short but quality naps, lucid dreams, or just meditating with your eyes open.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Nap Unnoticed
Step 1. Know the benefits of a short nap
Napping, even just 10 minutes, can help improve energy, concentration, memory, and focus. Napping should be considered an asset in increasing productivity. Consider incorporating naps into your daily schedule so you can maximize your potential at work or school.
Long naps are not recommended because you are more likely to be caught and also not provide maximum benefits. Try to only take a few minutes of naps when you're at school or work
Step 2. Find a secret place to sleep
In an ideal scenario, you'd be able to sleep in a place full of privacy, so your friends and boss won't notice you're sleeping. Find a location away from other people to stretch out and close your eyes for a few minutes. If you can, check out the following possible places to take a nap:
- Private office space
- Car
- Bathroom
- Rarely used storage space
Step 3. Sit at the back of the room
You don't have to sleep in a private place. If you are tired and have to go to school or work, sit in the back of the room, away from the speaker or teacher. Give yourself a chance to rest without getting caught. As long as you keep your back still, there's very little chance that anyone will notice that your eyes are closed.
Step 4. Wear sunglasses
If you start to feel sleepy at work or school, wear sunglasses. Not only will you sleep more effectively in the dark light of your sunglasses, but you'll also be less likely to get caught. No one will notice that your eyes are closed.
If you don't have sunglasses, consider wearing a hat that you can pull over your eyes when needed
Step 5. Maintain good posture
One of the clear signs that you are sleeping is not at all eyes, but body language. A slumped body position with a slack jaw, limp hands, and an open mouth is very likely to make others realize that you are sleeping. When you sleep in front of other people, rest your elbows on the table and bend your arms 90 degrees. Then support your head in your open palm. This position will help keep your head upright and disguise the fact that you are sleeping.
Step 6. Find allies
If you have to sleep around a coworker or classmate, find out who can help if you're about to get caught. These allies can wake you up if your name is called or nudge you if the others are already on their way home. Make sure you do the same if he has to steal sleep too.
Step 7. Know the advantages and disadvantages of microsleeping
Microsleep is when the brain falls asleep while you are doing something like driving or working. During this period, your eyes may remain open even if your brain is not functioning normally. This condition has its advantages, because no one will notice that you are asleep, and your eyes do appear to be open. However, this condition is also dangerous, especially if you are driving a car or operating machinery. If you feel like you've lost consciousness for a few minutes, you may be in a micro-sleep.
- Microsleep tends to occur if you experience a fairly long period of sleep deprivation. This condition is also common in people who work the night shift.
- You can't reach a microsleep state on purpose, it can only happen due to lack of sleep and chronic fatigue.
Method 2 of 3: Meditate with Open Eyes
Step 1. Know the benefits of meditation
Meditation can increase focus, concentration, energy, and overall happiness. Meditation can also reduce stress levels significantly. Several studies show that people who practice daily meditation are generally more optimistic about life.
Step 2. Recognize that meditation can resemble, but cannot completely replace, sleep
What's more, meditation allows the brain to cycle from beta waves (when you wake up) to alpha waves (the stage right before sleep). You don't replace the sleep cycle with meditation. However, you are giving your brain a chance to rest so that it can be fully awake during the beta cycle. Meditation for 10-15 minutes is enough to provide positive benefits such as sleep. People who meditate regularly don't need to sleep as often as people who don't meditate.
- This is one of the reasons why many people fall asleep easily immediately after meditating, because the brain is ready for sleep. But again, meditation is not the same as sleep.
- Meditation can also be used to solve the problem of sleep disorders.
Step 3. Tell yourself that meditation can be done with your eyes open
Many people think meditation should be done with their eyes closed. However, there are ways of meditation that don't require you to close your eyes. Some people report that they feel very refreshed and young again after meditating with their eyes open.
This type of meditation is especially useful for people who meditate on public transport, as well as in everyday life at school or work, because you can meditate without being caught. You just need a place to sit and a few minutes to meditate
Step 4. Find a quiet and dark place to practice meditation techniques
If possible, choose a dark, quiet, and quiet place to practice meditation with your eyes open. As you become more proficient, you will be able to meditate in a crowded environment. But to get started, try one room in your home that has dim lighting. Close the curtains and turn off all electronic devices to reduce distractions as much as possible.
Step 5. Find a comfortable position
Keep your back straight, but stay relaxed. Sit comfortably. Many people like the lotus position while meditating. However, you are free to choose any position as long as the body is relaxed. Just make sure your posture is good, not slouching or slumping. You can sit in a chair, kneel, or even lie down, whatever you feel comfortable with. Let your hands relax and open in your lap.
Some people find incense or scented candles to help them relax and focus. Please try it when you start practicing meditation
Step 6. Practice focusing on two sets of objects at the same time
You won't be able to meditate with your eyes open the first time you try. To develop the ability to meditate with your eyes open, start by practicing focusing both eyes on different objects. Select one object on the left as the focus of the left eye and one object on the right for the focus of the right eye. Try to maintain this dual focus for as long as possible, even if only for a few seconds.
- Your brain will be so focused on the visual information that all distractions and other mental sounds begin to dissipate, allowing you to reach a relaxed and relaxed meditative state.
- Gradually increase the practice time focusing on two sets of objects. If you want to challenge yourself, maybe you can try turning your head away while remembering what the two objects look like in your mind.
- In no time, you will begin to notice other objects in front of you. Be aware of the objects, but don't let your focus get distracted. For example, you may admire the beautiful light in the room. However, don't think that you have to clean that dusty shelf you just saw. Get that kind of worry out of your mind.
Step 7. Take a deep breath
Once you get used to focusing on two sets of objects at the same time, start incorporating deep breathing exercises into your meditation. Inhale through your nose for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, and then slowly release through your mouth. Even though as a beginner you should really measure the time at first, but later you should be able to breathe in automatically so that there is no need to "count" in your head.
Step 8. Practice meditation with your eyes open in your daily life
Once you have mastered the art of meditating with your eyes open in a calm and controlled environment, you can begin to apply it in your daily life. At first it will be quite difficult, but you have to be patient and understanding with yourself. Let your body be a source of calm and relaxation even when the world around you is chaotic and very disturbing. Before long, you'll be able to reach a state of rest and focus with your eyes open while at work, school, or on the bus.
Method 3 of 3: Practice Getting Realized Dreams
Step 1. Consider alternative states between sleep and wakefulness
Many animals that sleep with their eyes open experience a state between sleep and wakefulness. This method does not exist in humans. However, there is another way to achieve awareness and alertness during sleep, called lucid dreaming. A lucid dream occurs when the person experiencing it suddenly realizes that he or she is dreaming. Then he can control the dream world and is fully aware when sleeping.
Step 2. Read information about lucid dreams to lure you in
Scientists aren't sure why, but reading about the phenomenon of lucid dreaming can make one experience it. For some people, increasing awareness of one phenomenon is enough to experience the phenomenon itself. Visit your local library to do research on this topic, or read information online. Read as many articles and stories as you can find to instill a sense of lucid dreaming in your mind. Maybe you will get lucky and experience your own lucid dream.
Step 3. Make sure you get enough sleep
The most important step to having control over your dreams is getting enough sleep each night. This will maximize REM sleep, which is the most likely period for dreaming.
Step 4. Keep a kind of dream journal
Write down your dream experiences in a dream journal and keep it updated with discipline. This habit will train your brain to recognize common themes and emotions from your dreams. This will help the brain realize you are dreaming in the midst of the dream itself. Keep a journal by your bed so you can record any dreams you just had as soon as you woke up. If you are disturbed after a dream, it is likely that you will forget what happened in the dream.
Step 5. Tell yourself that you want to dream lucidly
Just before going to bed, tell yourself that you want to have a lucid dream. Prepare the brain to be sensitive during dreaming. Every night, focus consciously on that desire of yours.
Step 6. Download the lucid dream app
There are several cell phone apps that are designed to help signal your brain to realize that you are dreaming. Download one of these apps and use it while you sleep. The app will help monitor when you're dreaming and play audio cues to try to make you aware of your own dream state without being fully awake.
Tips
- Sleeping with your eyes open intentionally is not recommended (or possible). The condition can damage your eyes and reduce your ability to sleep as needed.
- Some people are used to sleeping with their eyes open. However, the habit is formed due to biological factors and injury, not due to training and practice. People who can sleep with their eyes open include children and infants (which will soon stop on their own), sleepwalkers, people experiencing night terrors, stroke patients, people with facial injuries. or head, Alzheimer's patients, and people with sleep, eye, and nervous disorders.
Warning
- If left untreated, sleeping with your eyes open can cause eye pain, infection, and sores on the cornea.
- Sleeping with your eyes open could be a sign of a serious medical condition. Conditions that may be suffered include Bell's Palsy, stroke, infection, Alzheimer's, damage to the orbicularis muscle in the eyelids, genetic disorders, multiple sclerosis, and trauma to the face. If you notice that you or someone you know falls asleep easily with your eyes open, see a doctor or neurologist as soon as possible.
- Realize that sleeping at work or school can have negative consequences such as being suspended or fired. Try not to attract attention when you need to take a break.
- Do not try to meditate or sleep while you are driving a motor vehicle or operating heavy machinery. You must stay focused on the task at hand for the safety of many.
