This is exactly what I've been doing for about three months now. I quit my 9-to-5 to work on a then side-project full-time. Being outside the structure of a corporate work-environment, I started doing this and it's been the most productive time of my life to date.

When I'm always fully rested and have 10-ish hour blocks of uninterrupted time to work, I get way more done. The only problem is my sleep cycle doesn't always line up with the celestial day. My guess is that's due to two things: 1) artificial light, and 2) I'm fairly sedentary while working and I don't workout, so I tire more slowly than I would if I was doing something more active. So, I've found I settle into 24-30 hour cycle, which results in some ridiculous sleep/wake times.

Thankfully, I have the freedom to do this and it works great for me. If you can swing it, I suggest trying it for a month or so.

I do the same, sleep when I'm tired and have the problem of sometimes having to match my sleep/day to being awake at specific times for one off things and sometimes that throws me off productivity. I have also found that I too in general do 24-30 hour days, I'd say the average is 18 hours awake and 10 hours asleep, although I've done as much as 34 awake and 16 asleep.

I've been doing this for over a year now and I think it's hugely beneficial for me, although within a month I'm moving to working from an office so I'll be trying standard 9 - 5 (I think, unless I'm allowed freedom!) so it will be interesting to compare. Personally I think structure is good for me, although the freedom is great I can find myself wasting 2 days without doing anything productive... definitely something everyone should try anyway

Cheers! I was asking honestly; I realized re-reading today it sounded hostile.

I have quite a bit of freedom at work, I might give this a go.

That's how I have slept for several years now. It is not a topic I have studied in any depth, but it seems reasonable to think that your body is able to regulate its sleep needs. According to my parents, I still maintain the same basic sleeping schedule that I had when I was a baby.

Yep. I think the body knows best and it's best not to interrupt your REM cycles with a blaring alarm clock. Of course, that can be tough to do if you have meetings to get to in the morning, but if you have a flexible schedule, I highly recommend it.

It works well if you don't have artificial light.

And I mean none. No light bulbs, no TV, no LEDs on devices, no computer screen.

Also, cut caffeine out of your life. Reserve it for special circumstances. Because even a small amount of caffeine can linger for a long time, keeping you from falling asleep easily.