Who are these people? And who am I?
What is your Chronotype?
When are you most productive? If left on your own, what would your day be like? So many of us do not dictate our daily schedule. We must be productive when it is convenient for other people. Is there really a difference among people?
Each person has a specific chronotype which is the natural inclination of your body to sleep at a certain time, or what most people understand as being an early bird versus a night owl. In addition to regulating sleep and wake times, chronotype has an influence on appetite, exercise, and core body temperature.
Each person has a specific chronotype which is the natural inclination of your body to sleep at a certain time, or what most people understand as being an early bird versus a night owl. In addition to regulating sleep and wake times, chronotype has an influence on appetite, exercise, and core body temperature.
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/
Consider all the people you meet on a regular basis. Have you heard anyone declare what they think is their chronotype? It may sound a bit like this….
I can’t eat first thing in the morning.
Let’s just watch one more episode before we go to bed.
Can we schedule that meeting later?
I love to work out in the early morning.
Let’s go to the gym after work.
These comments are people getting in touch with their chronotype and trying to control when they do activities, whether it is work, physical activity or even eating. And sleeping, of course. There are certainly numerous events in our lives that we can’t control--school and work schedules, for example. These events are a struggle for people whose chronotype does not match those established schedules.
What if we had words to identify our chronotype? What if we really understood our personal times of productivity and were able to verbalize that with co-workers and friends and family members? This knowledge won’t allow you to show up at school or work later and there are numerous occasions we have to adjust, but it will help you better understand yourself as well as others. Perhaps you can even advocate for yourself in certain situations.
Michael Breus has written a book, The Power of When in which he helps readers determine their chronotype and gives specific suggestions for negotiating through life.
Check out this quiz he has created to help you determine yours. I’d love you to share your comments here after you have taken the quiz.