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Because the body has a cycle of hormone release that makes people alert or tired at different times and trying to change it is almost impossible. There is a the

Because the body has a cycle of hormone release that makes people alert or tired at different times and trying to change it is almost impossible. There is a theory that we evolved different sleep schedules so that one member of a tribe would be awake at any point in time to be alert to danger. This is not a question of mere will or discipline. You try staying awake until 7am every night and see how it feels.

JepZ 9y ago
Then humans must be different in that respect. In fact, I changed my sleep schedules multiple times in the last two years alone (from getting up at 6am to going to bed at 6am). The only constant seems to be that I require 8 hours of sleep. For a few days I can get by with 6 hours, but after a week or so with less than 8 hours I get kinda sick for as long as I don't catch up. However, while I feel that my body has some kind of cycle too, for me it is possible to adjust it over the course of a few weeks.
- barry-cotter 9y ago
  Night shift workers die younger than people whose shift rotates die younger than people who work a day shift. And one way people acclimate to different sleep schedules is by forgetting what not feeling like shit feels like. People do not acclimate to commuting, they forget what not feeling terrible all the time feels like.
  - JepZ 9y ago
    Well, I think there are more factors to earlier dying night shift workers than just their sleep cycle. To name a few: - less sunlight (vitamin D) - lower payment - lower education Those might all affect the life expectancy and if night shift workers die earlier than those with rotating shifts, it is obviously a sign that not the change is the main factor for the lower life expectancy. From my own experience I can tell you, that I neither forgot what feeling like shit feels nor was I forced to change my sleep cycles by some exterior factors. I agree to some extend with your examples, but I don't think those are the only options to acclimate to different sleep schedules.

JepZ 9y ago

Then humans must be different in that respect. In fact, I changed my sleep schedules multiple times in the last two years alone (from getting up at 6am to going to bed at 6am). The only constant seems to be that I require 8 hours of sleep. For a few days I can get by with 6 hours, but after a week or so with less than 8 hours I get kinda sick for as long as I don't catch up. However, while I feel that my body has some kind of cycle too, for me it is possible to adjust it over the course of a few weeks.

barry-cotter 9y ago
Night shift workers die younger than people whose shift rotates die younger than people who work a day shift. And one way people acclimate to different sleep schedules is by forgetting what not feeling like shit feels like. People do not acclimate to commuting, they forget what not feeling terrible all the time feels like.
- JepZ 9y ago
  Well, I think there are more factors to earlier dying night shift workers than just their sleep cycle. To name a few: - less sunlight (vitamin D) - lower payment - lower education Those might all affect the life expectancy and if night shift workers die earlier than those with rotating shifts, it is obviously a sign that not the change is the main factor for the lower life expectancy. From my own experience I can tell you, that I neither forgot what feeling like shit feels nor was I forced to change my sleep cycles by some exterior factors. I agree to some extend with your examples, but I don't think those are the only options to acclimate to different sleep schedules.