Dayz Sleeping Guide: Tips For A Good Night's Rest

In DayZ, the post-apocalyptic open-world survival game, players must navigate a world of infected (not zombies) and forge friendships with other players. The game is designed to be as realistic as possible, with players required to manage hunger, thirst, stamina, and other survival mechanics. Notably, the game does not feature a sleep or rest mechanic, allowing players to run for extended periods without needing to stop for a prolonged break. While beds and chairs are present in the game, they cannot be used for sleeping. Instead, players can press F3 to sit and rest for a couple of minutes to reduce fatigue and heal. However, some players have expressed a desire for a more comprehensive sleep system to add to the game's realism.

Press F3 to sit and rest

Pressing F3 is the keybinding for sitting down in DayZ. This can be used to rest and regain energy when your character is feeling dizzy, faint, or exhausted. To fully rest, you need to sit still for about two minutes (120 seconds). During this time, you can ignore the game for 5-10 minutes in between each sitting.

While resting, you can also eat and drink to satisfy your hunger and thirst, as these can also cause your character to feel tired. However, it's important to note that you cannot sleep just anywhere in the game. Sleeping is necessary to regain energy, and you may need to find a house or a suitable location to do so.

Additionally, pressing 'C' will make your character stand up, and you can also aim down sights by right-clicking at the same time.

Eat and drink to reduce tiredness

In DayZ, food and drink are crucial for survival. Eating and drinking the right things can help you reduce tiredness and fatigue. Here are some tips to help you stay energised:

Firstly, it's important to understand the in-game hunger and thirst mechanics. Your character will notify you of their status with messages like "I feel hungry" or "I feel thirsty". Hunger and thirst can lead to negative status effects like dizziness, exhaustion, and headaches, which will impact your ability to play the game effectively. To counter this, make sure you're consuming enough food and water.

Food in DayZ comes in various forms, including canned goods, dry foods, produce, raw meat, and cooked meat. Some foods will decay over time, so be mindful of that. Cooked goods tend to last longer, so prepare raw food before it spoils. Eating raw meat is not recommended, but if you have no other choice, consume it in small amounts and use Charcoal Tablets to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

Drinks are also important for hydration, but be careful where you source your water from. Drinking from unknown water sources can lead to cholera. It's best to use well water or purify river water with chlorine tablets or by boiling it.

Now, let's discuss some specific foods and drinks that can help reduce tiredness:

• Fruits and vegetables: These are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that help fight fatigue and improve physical function. Aim for a variety of in-season or frozen produce to meet your daily requirements.
• Non-caffeinated beverages: While caffeine can provide a short-term boost, too much can lead to severe fatigue and trouble sleeping. Stick to water, decaffeinated coffee, and unsweetened tea to stay hydrated and avoid caffeine-induced tiredness.
• Lean proteins: These help maintain muscle mass, prevent malnutrition, reduce inflammation, and keep you feeling fuller for longer. Include animal proteins like chicken, eggs, and fatty fish, as well as plant-based proteins like legumes, tofu, and soy products.
• Whole grains and complex carbs: Carbohydrates are a vital source of energy, but choose whole grains and complex carbs like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains instead of refined carbs (white bread, pasta, cakes, etc.). These provide long-lasting energy and help prevent energy crashes.
• Vitamins and supplements: Vitamin deficiencies can cause fatigue. Speak with a healthcare professional if you suspect a vitamin deficiency, and consider taking appropriate supplements and daily vitamins.

Remember to eat several smaller meals throughout the day instead of a few large ones. This will help you avoid that sluggish feeling that comes with overeating. Also, consider taking a short walk after eating to aid digestion and prevent fatigue.

No need to sleep/rest

In DayZ, there is no need to sleep or rest. You can run for days and nights, stopping only for a short break, and then continue. While there are beds and chairs in buildings, you can't use them. However, you can log out and imagine that your character is already asleep, and the game world is a bad dream.

If you do feel the need to rest, you can press F3 to sit and do nothing for a minute or so. However, this can be frustrating as it forces you to do nothing for a minute every few minutes. Eating and drinking can also help with feelings of tiredness.

If you want to add a more immersive sleeping feature to the game, you can download the ZenSleep mod. This mod introduces a "tiredness" meter that depletes over time, depending on your activities. If the meter falls below a certain point, your character will start yawning, which can give away your position to other players. If the meter falls too low, you risk falling unconscious or falling asleep on the spot. You can recover your rest by using the "Lie Down" emote and sleeping near a fire or inside a building.

Players can't use beds and chairs

In DayZ, there is no need to sleep or rest. Players can run for days and nights, only stopping for a short break, and then continue. While there are beds and chairs in almost every building, players are unable to use them. Instead, players can simply log off when they are tired in real life and need to sleep, and their character will remain safe from the dangers of the game world.

To rest in DayZ, players need to sit down and do nothing for a few minutes. This can be done by pressing F3 on the keyboard. However, some players have reported that this does not always get rid of the "I'm feeling dizzy" and similar status effects. Instead, these effects can be mitigated by ensuring the player character is well-fed and hydrated. Eating and drinking enough seem to be the only ways to avoid these negative status effects, as there is no way to sleep in the game.

Some players have expressed a desire for more mechanics in the game, including the ability to sleep. They argue that adding more survival mechanics would increase the challenge and depth of the game. However, others appreciate that the developers have drawn the line at certain mechanics, such as sleeping and using the bathroom, as these could be seen as unnecessary or even annoying.

While there is no need to sleep in DayZ, players can still experience fatigue and need to rest. This can be managed by sitting down for a short period, ensuring the character is well-nourished and hydrated, and logging off to rest when necessary.

Rest for 5-10 minutes in between each sitting

To rest in Day Z, you need to sit down and do nothing for a few minutes. Press F3 to sit, then wait for a minute, and ignore the game for 5-10 minutes in between each sitting. You don't have to sleep, but if you are feeling tired, you will need to eat and drink.

Some players find this mechanic frustrating, as it forces you to do nothing for a minute or so every few minutes. However, others appreciate the added realism of needing to rest and the fact that you can't just run around at full sprint non-stop.

It's worth noting that there is no sleep mechanic in Day Z, so you don't have to worry about being killed in your sleep. When you log off to go to sleep in real life, your character is also sleeping.

Frequently asked questions