My natural sleep cycle doesn't seem to conveniently fit into a 24-hour day. If I go to bed when I'm tired and wake up naturally, I find that each day I'm waking up about an hour later. I have experienced this twice in my life, so far. Once, after selling a business and taking some time off, I quit drinking coffee and after the effects wore off, that was my pattern. The second time was more recent. It isn't a problem, but it is interesting.
Anyone else experience anything like this?
As John Tyrrell has said, it is your Circadian rhythm which runs around about a 25 hour cycle. The variability of the cycle is partially based on light levels but also on an inbuilt body clock. Look up Michael Siffre who produced a number of studies on the matter.
If you are having trouble keeping a good sleep pattern, then you will need to cleanse your sleep habits. Failing that, see a Doctor and get some Melatonin prescribed.
That's what I remember hearing about a study with people living underground with all clocks removed - they naturally settled into a 25 hour cycle. There must be some practical reason for this, but I can't think what it is, unless it helps with staying up late when you need to.
@David_Cooper Daylight changes as the year progresses so our circadian timer has evolved to deal with it.
Dawn doesn't move by an hour from one day to the next, so that can't be it..