The Resolution
For this post, I have the great pleasure of being able to choose two seemingly contradicting categories - Sleep Deprivation and Productivity. 
There’s a lot to comment on, but I’ve chosen to keep this post short and focus on what will be one of the driving points of this website. It stems from a New Year’s resolution (yes, I know it’s early); a simple, intriguing, yet downright dangerous little gem of a goal - Four hours. Four hours per day. Four hours of non-productive time-wasting nonsense, and not a minute more.
At this point, you’re probably thinking, “… Four hours? That’s it? So in an eight-hour work day, you’re allowed to screw around for half of it?” Not quite. You see, there’s a catch. This four hours of “screwing around” includes sleep.
Go back and read that again carefully if you didn’t understand it the first time. Four hours. Including sleep.
70% of my readers have just headed for the hills. 
For the other 30%, don’t panic - yet. I have a fairly broad definition of “productivity” compared to, say, your boss. Have you ever tried taking a break from work to practice your guitar? Unless you work in a music store, your boss is unlikely to appreciate this impromptu open mic. But music is a talent which is loved and appreciated by people everywhere. By practicing it, you’re preparing yourself to deliver a useful product, whether or not you ever get paid for it.
In short, I define productivity - for this purpose - as any non-necessary activity which produces a helpful product, develops a useful skill or attribute, or does either of these for someone else.
Obviously, gray areas exist. What about just hanging out with friends? While a social life might not be considered “productive”, you can’t just forget about it… right? Yes and no. Hanging out and building memories with friends you’re not going to see once they leave for college or get married? Definitely productive. Hanging out with the same friends you hang out with every day because there’s nothing better to do? Maybe, but not so much. Getting drunk with your friends so you won’t remember the night anyway? Non-productive. (Yes, I consider memories a helpful product.) Remember that you can - and should - do things which are both enjoyable and productive.
If you’re anything like most sane, apparently logical people, you’re probably wondering, “But how are you going to manage this while depriving yourself of sleep?” This is where the teaser comes… polyphasic sleep. If you can’t wait, look it up. Regardless, this won’t be the last mentioning of it on the site.
My resolution is this: By the end of 2007, I will spend at least 20 hours of each day, every day, doing productive activities. And I invite you to join me.
Fasten your seatbelts, ladies and gentlemen; it’s going to be a bumpy ride! 
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