Sleeping is a vital aspect of human life, as it allows our bodies to rest and rejuvenate. However, some individuals have pushed the limits of this necessary activity and have set world records for going without sleep for extended periods of time.
The average person can go without sleep for around 24-48 hours, but with extreme cases, some individuals have been able to go much longer. However, going without sleep for extended periods of time can have severe consequences on one’s physical and mental health.
Probably the most famous example of sleep deprivation is that of Randy Gardner. He held the record for the longest period of time without sleep until Maureen Weston overthrew it. Then, he stayed awake for 264.4 hours straight.
Randy was 17 years old when he set the record. He was working on a science fair project with his friend Bruce McAllister. He wanted to beat the world record and win the first prize. They worked with a sleep researcher, Joe Marciano. They wanted to study the human sleep cycle.
Until recently, a person who spent more than 11 days without sleeping could be deemed a world record holder in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, that is no longer the case. In fact, Guinness has stopped recording and certifying any attempt to break the record.
Taking an 18-day hiatus from sleep is the longest feat that humankind has ever accomplished. In 1977, UK resident Maureen Weston went without sleep for four times longer than the average person.
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