Circadian Rhythm Chronotypes

Are you a bear, wolf, lion, or dolphin? And, no, we’re not talking about zodiac signs!

These animals represent four chronotypes of common circadian rhythms. The type of animal you match with reveals your body clock rather than your personality. Depending mostly on exposure to light, your body clock is a tell-all of the patterns in your daily life. For example, it can help you understand when you typically feel sleepy versus when you typically feel awake. And more surprisingly, it can predict when you feel hungry. Your body clock even affects your body temperature! Clearly, circadian rhythms are a critical part of living comfortably and productively every day.

So, what happens if something disrupts your body clock? Society preaches to us to get in our eight hours a night and three meals a day. But, as with everything, life gets in the way. Whether you need to pull a dreadful all-nighter to finish up some work or you take off to a faraway location in a different time zone, it can be difficult to comply with your body clock all the time. When you get off schedule, you may face issues, including trouble sleeping, fatigue, mood swings, and more.

While it’s obvious that aligning with your body clock is crucial for your mental and physical state, how can we ensure we’re in sync? This is where the four chronotypes come in. The four circadian rhythm chronotypes or ‘time-types,’ are Bears, Wolves, Lions and Dolphins.

Bear Chronotype – Are you a bear, who starts the day with the sunrise and is most productive in the late morning?

Wolf Chronotype – Are you a wolf, who wakes and sleeps late, while enjoying the most productivity in the afternoon?

Lion Chronotype – Are you a lion, who rises early and is productive in the early morning?

Dolphin Chronotype – Are you a dolphin with various waking and sleeping times, who works best in the late morning?

Whichever circadian rhythm chronotype you identify with, taking the step to understand how your body functions best is a great start to living a healthier, more productive life.

Want to find out which chronotype you are? Learn more about how body clocks work and the four chronotypes with this graphic.