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I have a non-24 hour circadian rhythm and I think they are usually if not always closer to 24 hours than to that, but it is an interesting idea and as someone w

I have a non-24 hour circadian rhythm and I think they are usually if not always closer to 24 hours than to that, but it is an interesting idea and as someone who also has bad insomnia I can see the appeal. However, one thing to keep in mind for anyone who doesn't already have Non-24 is that it may be that Non-24 has both a genetic aspect and a trigger and trying something like that could be the trigger that prevents you from sleeping on a 24 hour schedule again. I encourage everyone to be careful with your circadian rhythm since messing it up causes major problems (in my case, I get the strong sense that there is an issue with syncrhonization and different parts of my body shift at different rates and some parts synchronize with the sun). Also, some of us with Non-24 find it harder get to sleep during the day and I'd guess that would be the case for many people on this type of schedule (it might not be possible to keep a by-the-numbers schedule).

peteforde 6y ago
Some good points! I am not a doctor, but I have spent a lot of time in sleep clinics and reading about sleep. I am also quite familiar with the huge number of issues surrounding the relatively recent book "Why We Sleep" which is essentially considered partially-debunked at this point. I feel about that book the way most of us would feel about a book declaring that people who code or are interested in startups are missing opportunities to play more football. My rhythm seems to be off by two REM cycles eg 1.5hx2, and I actually find 3h pretty easy to manage as it loops around every 7-8 days. I don't have any trouble falling asleep during the day, because I own a https://nitehood.ca https://nitehood.ca - the discount code is August15 BTW.
- balfirevic 6y ago
  > I don't have any trouble falling asleep during the day, because I own a https://nitehood.ca https://nitehood.ca Did you end up with this randomly or do you find it better than regular sleep mask?
  - peteforde 6y ago
    I don't know about random per se... I admit that I saw it on Instagram after being frustrated by 3 sleep masks that would just come off while I was sleeping. I love the NiteHood. It's objectively awesome in terms of function, density and even material choice. 10/10
- joveian 6y ago
  I agree with at least most of the criticism of "Why We Sleep" and haven't read the book. My concerns about messing up circadian rhythms have nothing to do with the book (other than that some of the advice in the book seems to encourage some people to mess up their circadian rhythm). I am disabled due to sleep issues and have met a few others who also have severe issues due to circadian issues (some people with Non-24 do fine if they can keep a Non-24 schedule). It is at least possible that for some people experimenting with a non-24 hour schedule could cause a permanant Non-24 condition so anyone considering trying such a schedule should be aware of the potential risk. For me (and I'd guess many others) a sleep mask does not make it much easier to sleep during the day. I would need to have a dark environment for a while before sleep. Some people can set up a room like that but I can't at this point. This is not to say that I never get to sleep during the day, but I stay up longer when I go to sleep during the day, even if I have been awake for a while. Some people with Non-24 have the same reaction I do and others don't.
  - peteforde 6y ago
    Honestly, that sounds like hell. I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I am very lucky that I am able to control my environment - I have blackout curtains on my bedroom window, which is where I work.

peteforde 6y ago

Some good points! I am not a doctor, but I have spent a lot of time in sleep clinics and reading about sleep. I am also quite familiar with the huge number of issues surrounding the relatively recent book "Why We Sleep" which is essentially considered partially-debunked at this point. I feel about that book the way most of us would feel about a book declaring that people who code or are interested in startups are missing opportunities to play more football. My rhythm seems to be off by two REM cycles eg 1.5hx2, and I actually find 3h pretty easy to manage as it loops around every 7-8 days. I don't have any trouble falling asleep during the day, because I own a https://nitehood.ca https://nitehood.ca - the discount code is August15 BTW.

balfirevic 6y ago
> I don't have any trouble falling asleep during the day, because I own a https://nitehood.ca https://nitehood.ca Did you end up with this randomly or do you find it better than regular sleep mask?
- peteforde 6y ago
  I don't know about random per se... I admit that I saw it on Instagram after being frustrated by 3 sleep masks that would just come off while I was sleeping. I love the NiteHood. It's objectively awesome in terms of function, density and even material choice. 10/10
joveian 6y ago
I agree with at least most of the criticism of "Why We Sleep" and haven't read the book. My concerns about messing up circadian rhythms have nothing to do with the book (other than that some of the advice in the book seems to encourage some people to mess up their circadian rhythm). I am disabled due to sleep issues and have met a few others who also have severe issues due to circadian issues (some people with Non-24 do fine if they can keep a Non-24 schedule). It is at least possible that for some people experimenting with a non-24 hour schedule could cause a permanant Non-24 condition so anyone considering trying such a schedule should be aware of the potential risk. For me (and I'd guess many others) a sleep mask does not make it much easier to sleep during the day. I would need to have a dark environment for a while before sleep. Some people can set up a room like that but I can't at this point. This is not to say that I never get to sleep during the day, but I stay up longer when I go to sleep during the day, even if I have been awake for a while. Some people with Non-24 have the same reaction I do and others don't.
- peteforde 6y ago
  Honestly, that sounds like hell. I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I am very lucky that I am able to control my environment - I have blackout curtains on my bedroom window, which is where I work.