#feanor sleeps exclusively open-eyes

[sesamenom]

Headcanon: there are separate types of sleep for 'doing something, but tired' and 'sleeping in a bed'.

the former is used for situations like 'waiting for furnace to heat up after being awake for three weeks straight' or 'there are orcs nearby and i do not have a roof', where it's closer to very restful meditation that can be conducted while doing a simple or repetitive task (walking, eating, painting a wall, keeping an eye on the oven, keeping an eye out for orcs directly in front of oneself). this form of sleep is the eyes-open one (kind of like dolphin alertness), since it's almost exclusively used in situations where the elf in question is also using their eyes. Legolas used this sleep mode while walking as well as at night, giving everyone else the impression that he has endless energy when in actuality he was just napping half the time.

the latter is used for situations like 'got home after a week of travel and just want to crash in bed', 'cozy blankets on a rainy day', or 'passed out drunk while a tiny invisible burglar steals your keys' which is closer to human sleep, with closed eyes and no extra activities. It's a bit more restful and has far less risk of getting randomly startled awake as compared to open-eyed sleep, as well as being much easier to maintain when there is a lot of direct light (Treelight, silmaril-light, Losgarlight, etc). most elves prefer this one when they aren't doing anything important, or as a break after month-long crafting sprints.

There is also a secret third type of sleep: Dead.

(Context below poll)

In The Two Towers, Tolkien makes a big deal out of Legolas not needing much rest and how he sleeps with his eyes open "in the way of the elves." However, in the Silm and the Hobbit elves absolutely seem to sleep "normally" (including snoring!) whenever convenient for the plot. So what gives?

Assorted quotes about sleeping beneath the cut.

From The Two Towers:

Only Legolas still stepped as lightly as ever, his feet hardly seeming to press the grass, leaving no footprints as he passed; but in the waybread of the Elves he found all the sustenance that he needed, and he could sleep, if sleep it could be called by Men, resting his mind in the strange paths of elvish dreams, even as he walked open-eyed in the light of this world.

With that [Aragorn] fell asleep. Legolas already lay motionless, his fair hands folded upon his breast, his eyes unclosed, blending living night and deep dream, as is the way with Elves. Gimli sat hunched by the fire, running his thumb thoughtfully along the edge of his axe. The tree rustled. There was no other sound.

Gandalf is a maia, not an elf, but he doesn't quite close his eyes in sleep either. Also from The Two Towers:

Driven by some impulse that he did not understand, Pippin walked softly to where Gandalf lay. He looked down at him. The wizard seemed asleep, but with lids not fully closed: there was a glitter of eyes under his long lashes.

From The Hobbit:

So following the hobbit, down into the lowest cellars they crept. They passed a door through which the chief guard and the butler could be seen still happily snoring with smiles upon their faces. The wine of Dorwinion brings deep and pleasant dreams.

From The Silmarillion:

And when again thirty years had passed, Turgon son of Fingolfin left Nevrast where he dwelt and sought out Finrod his friend upon the island of Tol Sirion, and they journeyed southward along the river, being weary for a while of the northern mountains; and as they journeyed night came upon them beyond the Meres of Twilight beside the waters of Sirion, and they slept upon his banks beneath the summer stars. But Ulmo coming up the river laid a deep sleep upon them and heavy dreams; and the trouble of the dreams remained after they awoke, but neither said aught to the other, for their memory was not clear, and each believed that Ulmo had sent a message to him alone.