Useful energizer software for musicians who still have time-consuming day jobs
If you’re like me, you’re perpetually trying to squeeze more hours into the day to get more time to work on your music or other projects, and sometimes sleep is the easiest thing to sacrifice. But you also know how crummy that makes you feel in the long run. Last week I was searching for info on how “sleep more efficiently,” and came across this post at my favorite “productivity p0rn” site. It introduced me to pzizz, a program that helps you take short refreshing naps. Supposedly, short naps can be energizing: you wake up after one feeling refreshed and ready to be PRODUCTIVE. Pzizz is software designed to help you get just this type of nap, plus it feeds you positive messages about how darn efficient and great you are at the same time. Sounded a bit new-agey, and I’m not sure how “scientific” it actually is, but I found myself wondering if there might be something in it for me when I read the rave reviews of pzizz users.
Recently I’d fallen into the habit of lying down for a “short” nap after my long days at work (aiming for about 30 minutes), sleeping far too long (like 3 hours), and waking up feeling more tired than when I started, with no energy to do anything. So I was probably subconsciously on the lookout for something to kick me out of that habit. Enter pzizz. Because I knew I had 12- to 13-hour workdays ahead of me all last week, plus a mountain of stuff to work on at home, it seemed like a good time to give it a whirl.
I used pzizz for a 20-minute nap/rest when I got home every evening, and a couple of times in the afternoon to beat the “afternoon slump.” It’s hard to say after only one week (placebo effect/expectations of efficacy may do more than the actual product), but it sure seemed to work. I even had the energy to stay up until 3 am or later every night working on various projects, and was able to easily get up at 6 am every day for work. Between Sunday morning and Thursday night I slept about 15 hours total, and I felt surprisingly good. My scheduled work week ends on Thursday afternoon, and granted, I did crash for an 11 hour sleep on Thursday night. But I’ve used pzizz over the weekend too, and have been feeling ready to get up after 6 hours of sleep per night (normal for me is 8-9).
From what I remember, the research on sleep is somewhat contradictory, so it’s hard to say if getting less sleep than you “need” is good for you. But hey, as long as you feel good, you’re probably not doing any harm, right? So I’ll keep using it and see how it goes. The trial software is free to download and try — if you do try it out, I’d be interested in knowing how it worked for you.
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Well usually when I have loooong days in my schedule it only takes for a few weeks and I am kinda so addicted to my work/studies field that I can keep going then. Just need lots of sleep afterwards again.
But maybe I’ll try it soon when I can’t stop playing with my new toys (already have 1 lens… two more coming soon and I’ll use my dad’s camera till i have enough money again to buy my own
) Hopefully there’ll be another SoP tour by then (or a warbride one that’s good too) so I can test it out then 
I don’t know how it works, but I’ll try it too.
I’m definitely a night-person, but due to school I have to wake-up quite early from time to time. So getting enough sleep is often a problem… (last night it was already 3AM before my eyes closed)
Btw Lori, 12-13 hours at a normal work-day. That’s completely incredible… nearly insane :-0
May I ask why soo long?
Have a good night,
Robbo
“sleep when you’re dead” they say…
But I’m more curious about those “positive messages” pzizz give you. Are they like “way to go Lori! I knew you could do it”?
I used my 30 minute train trip to work to take little naps. I don’t know why, but public transport naps are the best I can remember.
Finally, I love all your tutorial Lori! You should definitevly consider writting for Mackie’s owner manuals (www.mackie.com). Really funny ones…
@Juan: Haha, I use the time in the train as well to rest after tough days at school — unless there are nice ladies around
And off to his bed for a BIG nap,
Rob
*I’ll install the program tomorrow*
You’re right, Icey. People can get a lot accomplished when they have to. But when you work all day at the “have to’s,” it’s finding the energy for the “want to’s” that can be tough. That’s where the energizer’s made a big difference for me.
Rob, I spend lots of time peparing and doing follow-up work, rushing from site to site, and conferencing with my boss. It all adds up. But it’s a job (more than some people have), so I’m not complaining.
Juan, the messages are very subtile, not too “over the top” American feel-good stuff (thank goodness). You’ll just have to try it and see…
Glad you liked the tute, Juan. I’ll be writing about all kinds of stuff here, so I highly advise anyone who doesn’t want to get bombarded with my ramblings to subscribe to the SoP-only feed.
Hey, what’s wrong with “over the top American feelgood stuff”?
When I’ve had a real early morning that’s also going to end up in a long evening, I’ll take what we here ludicrously call a “power nap”. In a way I guess the name works because you do feel energized when you wake up. I’m not sure about the power part, but I believe the name came about because these naps were the province of powerful businessmen when they first became popular.
And you’re very correct about having to avoid sleeping any longer than the prescribed time. That definitely leaves you groggy and drained.
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Wow, I could have used it during our moving days, it is amazing how much time is spend packing and sorting out all of your stuff, not much sleeptime there.
But I might get a change to try it out now as our new house still looks like a bomb fell on it hahahah, so between sorting out our new stuff and working…. you guessed it not much sleep again.
So maybe it’s naptime
hugs,
Gwen
Hi Lori,
Finally found my own pinkie respect pen, at Stumpel here in Heemskerk.
Hugs, Gwen
Hej Lori,
Just thought I’d mention this while cracking my head over the Midi problem: there’s another, very easy trick to this:
Put your keys in your left/right hand. Lay down wherever you feel comfortable to sleep but leave your hand over the edge. If you sleep on a couch, bed, leave the hand hanging over the edge, if you sleep on a chair, let your arm dangle. When you drop your keys is the time to wake up. It sounds silly, but it works and you’ll find it’ll have around the same effect as the Pzizzzzzz only your bundle of keys is free!
John, it’s hard to explain what I mean about over-the-topness. If I find a good example, I’ll post it (now where was that darn bookmark?!).
I hope your move went well, Gwen. It is sooooo time-consuming to move, but a great opportunity to get rid of old junk! Congrats on the m/ pen, btw! Yvette is such a star for finding those.
Kristof, no need to crack your noggin over my problem, but thanks anyway! The “hold an object till you drop it” method seems to work for lots of people. I’ve not had success with it, though. Pzizz is the only thing that’s really impressed me (we’ll see if my love affair lasts past the first blush…)
Tried this evening the pzizz-thingy, and it was indeed pretty relaxing to take just a nap after a long day at school. I’ve never done such things before, because normally I always listen to music while being busy at my computer — without pauzes/naps.
So I guess it works fine, but it’s only quite a pity that it is a 1-hour demo :-/
@Gwen: congrats with finding one! Mine is still standing proud on my desktop
Ciao,
Robbo
Lori, glad I found your blog. Thank 43folders.
I use brainwave entrainment CDs to increase my mental productivity and energy level. They end up being like super duper power naps.
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Mmmmmm I also have a very hard and time consuming daily scheduled since I’m studying music in the morning and working part time in a Real Estate company on the afternoon/night…and I still have to get home and practice the guitar…I always get sleepy around 5-6pm…then I kind of “wake up” again and can stay awake up to 1-2am, go the bed, and wake up and 7am…but for some strange reason I don’t get stressed at all, neither do I feel tired, I do think I don’t have enough free time but no problems sleeping so far
I think it’s probably because I’m very active and I’m “happy” most of the time, smiling like an idiot hahaha…so I belive feeling tired has more to do with how you emotionally feel than with how much you’ve slept.
That’s why sometimes you can lay in bed and rest all day long, feeling sad, and you/re still tired and sleepy.