my current sleep schedule is consistently going to bed at three in the afternoon and waking up at about 10 to 11. is this unhealthy? if so why? this is the only schedule where my body wants to go to sleep at the same time every day
In: Biology
If you feel like those are the hours your body “wants” to sleep, you might have a circadian rhythm that is a little out of synch with most people. Look up advanced sleep phase syndrome.
The circadian rhythm is the set of internal biological processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle. For most people, it means they get tired and want to sleep at night, and feel more awake during the day. Some people are biologically inclined towards other schedules. I’m not an expert, but I know there are a couple genes that have been linked to the circadian rhythm, and variants in them can affect the circadian rhythm in different ways. That’s why things like being a night owl often run in families.
You will probably get the best quality sleep by following your own circadian rhythm. If sleeping from 3 to 10 feels good, and you wake up refreshed, who cares what the clock says? That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice, though, if it affects your quality of life in other ways because it messes with work, school, social life, etc.
If this bothers you, you could consider raising it with your doctor, just in case there is another medical issue going on. Be forewarned that most primary care doctors aren’t too familiar with circadian rhythm disorders, and you will probably get a lecture and/or paper handout about proper sleep hygiene. I know saying “doctors don’t know about this” makes it sound like some kind of fringe science, but that’s not the case- some of the research identifying the relevant genes has won a Nobel Prize. There are are doctors who can diagnose circadian rhythm issues, they just tend to be specialists.
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