Each year, we get better and better at
doing nothing.
But this idea definitely takes the cake!
The average person spends roughly
one third of their life in bed.
The below average person says,
"That's not enough time."
We all have those days when
getting out of bed seems like a real chore.
...Ok, maybe that's everyday.
But, we do it anyway.
...even if it does take a few hours.
Don't you think it's time we start saving time?
Do you feel like hitting
the snooze button indefinitely?
it's bedtime, 24/7.
I'm not talking about sleeping forever,
I'm talking about never leaving your bed...
again.
"What?"
In 2014,
NASA actually paid someone $18,000
to lie in bed for 70 days.
That's right, a person was paid
to literally do nothing...
and he hated it.
The experiment was meant to test
how future astronauts might be affected
by longer space flights;
like, for when we eventually go to Mars.
But an interesting finding
that might surprise you is
staying in bed sucks!
It's also kind of dangerous.
Before committing to a lifetime in bed,
you should know that it's
the dirtiest object in your room.
Your bed is home to countless dust mites,
a variety of bacteria,
and 17 different types of fungal spores!
But don't go rushing out
to buy a new mattress,
because you're a big part of the problem.
Those 500 million skin cells
you shed every day,
a large portion of them end up in your bed,
along with traces of the makeup
or lotions you wear,
and crumbs from the late night snacks you eat.
But you're not the only one
enjoying a midnight feast.
Whether it's skin, crumbs,
or any other type of particle,
the microbes you lie with
love the whole menu!
If you're still on board with
staying in bed forever,
then let me remind you of the simple,
unavoidable displeasure of
sweating.
"I'm sweating here!"
"I'm in bed, sweating."
Under normal conditions,
humans can produce approximately
98 liters (26 gallons) of sweat
every year while in bed.
And under abnormal conditions like
spending all your time there,
your bedding would soak up
nearly 300 liters of sweat per year.
To keep it from soaking up anything else,
think about your bathroom options.
Are you cool with bedpans, catheters, or,
going back to diapers?
Of course, cleaning up would
definitely require some assistance,
but if this is a world where
nobody leaves their bed,
then whoever's making
really sophisticated robots
with a good bedside manner
is about to become very rich.
Think about it.
A robot wouldn't only be there
to keep you clean,
but to keep you from turning into an
amorphous blob of rotting skin and
deteriorating bones!
Bedsores, for example, are the result of
prolonged pressure on the skin.
Left untreated, bedsores can lead to
skin, bone and joint infections.
In extreme cases,
they can even cause skin cancer.
A lifetime in bed would require
a lot more activity
than just tossing and turning.
You'd need to relieve pressure on your skin,
and exercise your muscles
to retain bone density and muscle mass.
Think of your body like a sexy sports car.
You might be worried about
scratching the paint, but,
you've got to drive it regularly
to prevent carbon buildup and
to keep it running at peak performance.
If you lie in bed all day
without moving your body,
your bones and your muscles
will eventually degenerate
to the point where you'll
no longer be able to use them.
Lack of exercise would also
reduce blood flow to your heart,
and your lung capacity would decrease
because lying on your back would mean
there'd be gravity pulling on them
to let in more air.
So while you're lying in bed,
literally relying on robots to keep you
clean, active, and,
for lack of a better word, "healthy,"
all you'd really be able to do is
read, play videogames, watch movies,
eat, sleep, think, and talk.
Needless to say,
you'd probably be pretty depressed.
This doesn't mean that
people who are confined to a bed, or,
who are largely immobile,
aren't capable of leading
rich and fulfilling lives.
There are many among us who do.
But if you are able,
if you are healthy,
if you're happy, and you know it,
clap your hands!
Shake a leg!
Jump,
dance,
that's what it's all about...
"That is an excellent plan, Detective."
"I'll just never sleep again!"
...within reason.
Have you ever wondered
what would happen
if you no longer needed sleep?
We've already have the answer for you.
But that's a story for another WHAT IF.