Body Clock – Are you a Lark or a Night Owl?

We all have our unique body clocks, or chronotypes, that dictate our optimum functioning during the day or the night. What works for you?

Your are either a morning-person or you’re a night owl. And that is also due to your specific chronotype. Much to our assistance, you can understand your chronotype to figure out your sleeping patterns.

Understand your Chronotype

A study carried out in 2018 shows that 27 percent of the people functioned as morning types. They were nicknamed the larks while 9 percent were the evening types as it earned them the name Owls. The remaining 64 percent lay on a varying scale in the middle. This shows that sleep patterns are unique for individuals. Someone with an owl chronotype feels more energized and alert in the evening. They are the ones dancing after the sun sets away and the last ones to show up at the breakfast table. On the other hand, the larks tend to be more awake early in the morning and the first ones to show up at the breakfast table. Their energy tends to get dimmed down during the evening. Our chronotype doesn’t fully settle until we become adults. It leans more towards the owl side when we are in our teens. Some schools around the world even started schools later for teenagers to ensure they are more energetic.

Can you change your chronotype patterns?

While it may not be possible to change it overnight, tweaking it is possible. It can be similar to managing jetlag or changing your routine day-by-day to fit seven to nine hours every night. Plan your day around your chronotype and keep important tasks for when you feel the most energetic. Understanding peak times and performing around them helps in training your circadian rhythm consistently over some time.