For example, I might not be sleepy at night and could stay another couple of hours awake, but if I decide to go to sleep, I am able to do so?
In: 42
A lot of people are answering in terms of instructions. I think OP was asking what biologically allows us to decide “OK I want to sleep now,” since there is a biology tag.
For human adults a lot of factors control sleep, core body temperature, stimulation, environment temperature, comfort, melatonin levels, deep breathing etc. You don’t need all of these factors to fall asleep just enough to get you ‘over the horizon’ to a state of unconsciousness. For example you may not be sleepy but it’s your normal bed time (melatonin is just right) so you lay down, get comfortable and start deep breathing so you fall asleep. Conversely as you approach bedtime you could decide to turn on the TV and start working out, this will provide enough stimulation to keep you awake.
I am not a sleep expert.
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