I've contemplated the same idea and even developed a strategy for its implementation. The reason I haven't implemented it is that my work requires me to be awake during the daytime hours.
You'll need to completely convince your body it's night during daytime hours and day during nighttime hours. This will require having blackout curtains over all your windows, and not going outside during the daytime. Even a little sunlight will activate the neural circuits associated with circadian rhythms in your brain, so you'll need to stay away from the outdoors or sunlight indoors during the daytime hours.
At night you'll have to do the opposite. You'll have to use as much light as possible, ideally full-spectrum light and not just an incandescent or CFL lightbulb, to light up your home and convince your brain it's day even though it's actually nighttime.
You'll also have to work out a shopping schedule that lets you get the things you need or want during nighttime hours. In most parts of the US this will not pose a problem as many places are open late enough. But for banking, visits to public offices (e.g.: DMV, post office, court), or visits to physicians, etc., this will be tricky.
I assume you plan to have little to no social interaction with other people, though you might find some friends among shift workers.
Finally, the people who have allegedly tried this do not report good results in general. But they were likely NTs or had other confounding factors.
Other people here should be able to add to my suggestions, since I never actually did it, and therefore probably am overlooking important issues or relevant details.
If you do manage to do it, report on your methods and outcome.
04 Aug 2009, 6:08 pm
