Opinion: It is better to sleep during the day than at night.

Question

I am a night owl and get my stuff done faster and more efficiently during the hours of night. It is peaceful, no one is awake to distract you, and you can go anywhere you want without being disrupted. It also allows you to see a beautiful sunrise. Sleeping 6-7 hours during the day (7am-1pm or 7am-2pm) will still leave you with a majority of the rest of the day, being able to do fun activities with your friends.

Answer 1

This claim is false because humans are not innately wired to be nocturnal or diurnal - we can be either. It varies from person to person, which explains why there is a debate at hand here. What works for some people may not for others. At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong sleep schedule, but there are some evolutionary factors at play here.

In 2008, the American Journal of Physical Anthropology conducted a study on primate sleeping patterns and the evolution of their vision. The study, in short, discussed that the way our brains, bodies, and eyes evolved point towards there being diurnal primate ancestors of homo sapiens. This means our eyes are genetically better at seeing while the sun is up, our brain functionality works best in the day, and so do our other biological systems. This is not to say that certain people operate better at night now, as humans continue to change and adapt. These evolved bodily functions were the result of organisms needing to hunt during the day to survive, something that modern day homo sapiens do less of.

Additionally, in Seeker's piece "Why Humans Aren't Naturally Nocturnal", they explain that the human circadian rhythm is naturally attuned to sleeping in darkness. In modern times, darkness can be obtained more easily than millions of years ago, so circadian rhythms can be tweaked to different lifestyles. Originally, it was directly tied to the sun and daylight. Seeker went on to say, "The brain adjusts the circadian rhythm according to how much light enters the eye. When it's dark, the brain floods the body with hormones that lower blood pressure, stress levels and body temperature." In this way, any darkness when one actually goes to sleep will aid in them being able to adjust and be well rested. 

In your original claim, you also discussed how sleeping during the day time still allows time for activities and social time, which can not be explicitly falsified or confirmed as that is up to individual schedules and time management. At the end of the day, in modern times, humans are able to have varying different sleeping schedules to better fit their lifestyles and schedules, so there is no longer a right or wrong answer for when the best time to sleep is.

AJPA Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19003895/

Seeker Source: https://www.seeker.com/why-humans-arent-naturally-nocturnal-1902920089.html 

Answer 2

It's really up to preference. It's generally better to sleep at night so that you can realign your circadian rhythm with your environment (internal clock). However, certain bedtimes work for some and don't work for others. It is recommended to get between 7-9 hours of sleep and to go to sleep around the same time everyday to maintain a healthy sleep schedule. As long as you have a good sleep schedule then there isn't really a right or wrong answer as to what time is the best to go to sleep. It's crucial to have people who prefer to sleep during the day and are more productive at night so that we have people who can work night shifts. 

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/myths-and-facts-about-sleep

Not misinformation 

Answer 3

It all depends on what your routine looks like and what your body is used to. A study conducted in the United Kingdom shows that the ideal time to go to sleep at is 10 p.m. But Dr. Lance explains that this time won't work for everyone. It all comes down to being consistent with your sleep schedule to receive the best type of sleep. It also depends on receiving enough REM sleep.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-time-should-i-go-to-bed/

Comments

So how would you rate the claim?

Answer 4

One of the issues with sleeping during the day rather than at night is that some light can potentially creep in, even with the curtains shut. This can completely throw off your circadian rhythm. According to sleep foundation, "Even when you are in bed with your eyes closed, low light can increase the risk of awakenings and may have negative effects on circadian rhythm. Studies have also found that sleeping with too much light in your bedroom can increase eye strain and may be associated with weight gain." 

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/myths-and-facts-about-sleep

According to the Other Shift, "As it gets darker outside, our bodies release a hormone called melatonin, which makes us tired. Similarly, as it gets lighter each morning, our bodies release another hormone, cortisol, to help boost our energy and stay awake." By sleeping in the middle of the day, we go against our bodies natural sleep pattern which can be harmful to the quality of the sleep. Hence, sleeping during the day is not actually better than sleeping at night. 

https://theothershift.com/day-sleep-instead-night-sleep/

Answer 5

Although it can be up to preference, sleeping is best during the night because it "matches our biological tendencies to adapt our sleep pattern with that of the sun." This was according to Heathline's Kevin Martinez M.D.. Martinez states that overall, dedicating enough time for sleep is most important for good quality sleep.

Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/best-time-to-sleep#summary

Answer 6

This is an opinion. It is important to have an ideal sleep environment, to get 7-9 hours of sleep each day, and to go to bed and wake up around the same times each day. Research supports following natural circadian rhythms. 

A video by Oxford states, "Studies have shown that disruptions to our natural rhythms put an extraordinary strain on the body, increasing the risk of a number of serious diseases, including cancer, heart disease, type II diabetes, and depression." 

An article from the page "The Other Shift" explains the natural rhythms of sleep, as it says; "As it gets darker outside, our bodies release a hormone called melatonin, which makes us tired. Similarly, as it gets lighter each morning, our bodies release another hormone, cortisol, to help boost our energy and stay awake. To make a long explanation short, sleeping at night is something our body is naturally programmed to do."

Overall, sleeping at night is what our bodies were made for. However, the demands of people's work and schedules may require being awake during these nighttime hours. Focusing on what you can control, such as consistency in sleep and wake times, sleep environment, and preparing for restful sleep are important here. 

OxfordSparks Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BoLqqNuqwA

The Other Shift: https://theothershift.com/day-sleep-instead-night-sleep/

Answer 7

According to this link, the best time to go to sleep is around 10pm, but it's not a concrete rule. You should instead just go to sleep whenever you feel tired, whether it's at 10pm or 7 am.

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a39357746/best-time-for-sleep/

Answer 8

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "your body's circadian clock responds to light, as a signal to be awake, and dark, as signal to fall asleep." Therefore, for many people, it is difficult to stay awake at night and sleep during the day because our bodies are not wired to do so. Sleeping during the day may disrupt the circadian clock, which can result in irregular sleep/wake cycles, hormonal activity, body temperature rythm, and eating and digesting. As a result, it is not reccomended to stay up all night and sleep from 7 am to 1 or 2 pm.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/emres/longhourstraining/light.html

Answer 9

According to the new University of Colorado Boulder research published in the journal PNAS, "Staying awake all night and sleeping all day for just a few days can disrupt levels and time of day patterns of more than 100 proteins in the blood, including those that influence blood sugar, energy metabolism, and immune function." 

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20180522/Staying-up-all-night-sleeping-all-day-can-swiftly-impact-over-100-proteins-in-the-blood.aspx#:~:text=Staying%20awake%20all%20night%20and,published%20in%20the%20journal%20PNAS