Do You Live By the Clock?

Posted byVanya Wryter ConsultingPosted inTech TuesdayTags:, , , ,

These days, I keep unusual waking and sleeping hours because of the weather. It’s summer here, and working early in the morning or late at night when it’s cooler makes sense. How about you? What hours do you keep?

Technology has created a world driven by the clock, not by the daylight hours. Many people maintain regular work hours, starting and finishing their work shifts at specific times. We shop according to a store’s business hours. We meet people at specific times. We live in a world ruled by the clock—every part of our day is scheduled, even when we take public transit.

This lifestyle is so different from the pre-industrial age. 

Before the industrial age and the widespread use of electric lighting, people lived by a different schedule. They had biphasic sleep, a natural pattern in which people sleep in two distinct segments. The first sleep began shortly after sunset and lasted a few hours. Then they wake in the middle of the night. After an hour or two of childcare, religious practices, or community defense (such as from wild animals), people would return to bed for their “second sleep,” before waking with the sun.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live that way—letting light, dark, and temperature guide my schedule instead of alarms and work hours. What would you prefer if you had a choice? Living by a clock, or living by your natural sleep patterns?

Daily writing prompt
What time do you go to bed and wake up currently?
View all responses

26 thoughts on “Do You Live By the Clock?”

      1. It’s amazing. You just focus on telling your body to wake up at a certain time and you’ll actually do it. I got it from Ian Fleming, one of the Bond books, I can’t remember which one. But if you try you might find it works!

        Liked by 3 people

  8. I seem that have been struggling with this forever…how much sleep is enough, how much is too much? is it 8hours, 9hours? and what is too much? I do know what happens when you over sleep…for me headaches and tired all of the time….but if not enough, tired all the time?….I’m retired – about the third time now – I really don’t need to set an alarm, but I still do….I keep trying to add a run to the early morning before the family wakes up and my wife heads off for work, but then, the expense is being tired throughout the day?…..a challenge

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. They say that 8 hours of sleep is enough, but it really depends on the individual. Oversleeping seems like a good idea for getting more rest, but sometimes I feel even more tired as well! I remember reading about your blog posts on running. It inspires me to get moving!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. I wish I could live by my natural sleep pattern. I like my working, thinking, and reading to take place in the sweet solitude of the night and sleep at the early stroke of dawn. Living a regimented, structured lifestyle for livelihood works but the satisfaction of is a trade-off, that is endured for it.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

Leave a comment