I was first introduced to the 5-3-1 rule at an anime convention in college.  No idea when the concept was invented, but that was my introduction.

Anyway, as I was perusing the con’s schedule I discovered a full-page notice, recommending that all attendees follow the 5-3-1 to prevent the spread of avian flu.  (I think it was avian flu.  It was either that or swine flu.  Whichever it was, places with lots of people were very concerned about it spreading.)  Below the big, scary letters they outlined what 5-3-1 actually meant.

Basically, for every day you’re at a convention they recommended that you get:

• 5 hours of sleep
• 3 meals (sometimes this one is is written as 2 meals)

and

• 1 shower

It’s basically the minimum an average person can function on- although the shower is more for everyone else.

It’s really easy to get over-enthusiastic at a con and attempt to subsist entirely on Red Bull and Pocky (not that I speak from experience), which tends to exacerbate things like Con Crud.  Con Crud, of course, being the disease you get after a weekend around strangers, none of whom have done the bare minimum to bolster their immune systems.  I have friends who spend an extra day in their hotel after any convention they attend just to give themselves time to rest.  Smart, but not as cost-effective as eating a sandwich every day.

Did you learn it as 2 or 3?  Can anyone survive on 2 hours of sleep?   I’d need a lot more Red Bull than is healthy if I only slept 2 hours a night.  

P.S. The query letters are still in a holding pattern, but I’m halfway through the storyline for book two!