Have you ever wondered why some people are morning people and others are night owls? Why do some people find it easy to wake up early and be productive in the morning, while others struggle to function until late in the day? The answer lies in what is chronotype (นาฬิกา ชีวิต คือ, which is the term in Thai), a biological trait that determines our natural sleep-wake cycle.
What Is Chronotype?
Chronotype refers to an individual’s biological clock or natural sleep-wake cycle. It determines when we feel most alert and productive during the day and when we feel sleepy or tired. Chronotype is an innate trait determined by genetics and is influenced by external factors such as light exposure, social and work schedules, and lifestyle choices.
There are two main types of chronotypes: morning and evening. Morning chronotypes, also known as larks, tend to wake up early and feel most alert and productive during the first half of the day. Evening chronotypes, on the other hand, also known as night owls, tend to stay up late at night and feel most alert and productive during the second half of the day.
Why Is Chronotype Important?
Chronotype plays a crucial role in our daily lives. It affects our sleep quality, alertness, productivity, and overall health and well-being. When we are in sync with our natural sleep-wake cycle, we feel more alert and productive during the day and sleep better at night.
However, when we are out of sync with our chronotype, such as when we force ourselves to wake up early or stay up late, we can experience a range of negative consequences.
Chronotype also plays a role in our work and social lives. Morning chronotypes tend to do better in jobs that require early mornings, such as teachers or healthcare workers, while evening chronotypes tend to do better in jobs that require late nights, such as musicians or bartenders.
How To Determine Your Chronotype?
There are several ways to determine your chronotype, including self-assessment questionnaires, sleep logs, and circadian rhythm testing. One of the most popular self-assessment questionnaires is the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), which asks questions about your sleep habits and preferences.
Sleep logs are another effective way to determine your chronotype. You simply keep a record of when you go to bed, when you wake up, and how you feel throughout the day for a week or two.
