In response to darkness, **the pineal gland begins to produce melatonin**. Melatonin is a serotonin-derived hormone that promotes sleepiness.
How does the body clock play a role if i can sleep anytime at home to take a nap.
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Because you *can’t* sleep any time to take a nap. “Promotes sleepiness” doesn’t mean it completely causes sleep. I mean, you can test this yourself. Assuming you aren’t already sleepy, sleep deprived, or near your normal bed time, just go into a dark room. Do you immediately become sleepy? No.
Light isn’t the only cue our bodies follow, otherwise people would conk out every time the lights go off. The circadian rhythm is the internal process which governs our sleep/wake cycle, and is naturally tuned to 24-hours. During normal wakeful hours, our bodies produce the hormone cortisol to make us active, which then tapers off through the afternoon and evening.
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