Welcome to the Fix My Sleep Blog, where we find solutions to help the sleepy and sleepless find the rest they deserve.

Have you ever asked the question, “What is my chronotype?”

Maybe you just asked yourself, “What is a chronotype?”

Over the next few blogs, we will dive into the different chronotypes, the best schedule for that chronotype and a few diet tips that can help make the most of your chronotype. 

There are four chronotypes; each one being specific to a sleeping pattern that we all have.

We will be diving into the wolf chronotype in this blog but before we can talk about the wolf we need to answer the question...

What Is a Chronotype?

A chronotype is your body and mind's natural sleep cycle which dictates when it’s time to sleep. It tells you when you sleep your best and when you will be most productive during your day. 

Do you remember being called an “early bird” or a “night owl”? While those are not official names for chronotypes, they give a basic understanding of the concept.

While someone who goes to bed late might have no problem getting up early, they will not be most productive until the afternoon. The same can’t be said for those who go to bed early. 

While they might think that sleeping more means they will be productive longer, they will be most effective earlier in the morning and slowly see their productivity decrease as the day goes on.

Your chronotype isn’t just factored by when and how you sleep but also on your age and your diet. Different chronotypes have different personality traits, and those who fall under the same category could see similarities with: 

• Sleep patterns
• Pain sensitivity 
• Sexual activity 
• Creative thinking 
• Intelligence 
• Personality traits

 

Those are only a few things that your chronotype can convey. Throughout our blogs, we want to look at the most popular categories of chronotypes and explain how you can take advantage of yours. 

What Is the Wolf Chronotype?

Also known as the “night owl,” the wolf chronotype is someone who loves being up when most other people are asleep. 

Staying up late also means liking to sleep late. Wolves have a hard time being productive in the morning and usually require some extra sleep or some sort of  jolt like coffee or exercise to get up to full speed.

The wolf chronotype comprises about 15-20% of the population. Many people who work late-night shifts are the wolf type which helps them stay productive when other chronotypes are in bed and sleeping. 

The wolf chronotype typically has personality traits that include:

• Creative
• Impulsive
• Emotional 
• Risk-taking/Thrill-seeking
• Adventurous/Daring
• Insightful

If you are a wolf, you tend to have a more challenging time dealing with society's standard sleep patterns. Getting a total of 7-8 hours of sleep can be difficult for you because you not only get a burst of energy around midday but another burst of energy in the early evening as well, which can lead to bad sleeping habits. 

 

Changing Chronotypes

A person's chronotype can change over time so its good to take a new assessment every so often. Take this free quiz to double check your chronotype

 

What's the Best Schedule for the Wolf Chronotype?

If you are a wolf chronotype, forcing yourself out of the night-owl sleep cycle can be a difficult task and one that you might not enjoy. However, slow changes can help find the perfect balance between utilizing those two daily bursts of energy while still prioritizing the rest and recharge you need to keep your body and mind healthy. 

Putting yourself on a schedule can help make the most of your chronotype. What we have listed below is more of a guideline. Try following a few of these changes to start, and add more into your day as you get more comfortable.

Remember that changes come slowly and over time; never rush them, or you could end up more drained than you felt before. 

Wake Up: Try and wake up between 7-9 am. Drinking a big glass of water and getting food into your system can make this process easier. 

10 am - 12 pm: Light work or tasks that don't require heavy thinking are the best for this time slot. However, because wolves have a more challenging time waking up, you might still be trying to gain enough energy for the afternoon. 

1 pm - 3 pm/Energy Burst: The wolf chronotype will have the first big burst of energy in this time frame. This is where you want your day's most intense tasks to take place. You can also extend this period if you eat a healthy lunch just before or during your energy burst. 

Late Afternoon: Finish the tasks you started during your first burst, then focus on less intense jobs. 

7 pm - 10 pm/Energy Burst: Your second burst of energy will come during this time. Look for creative tasks or work that puts your brain to work. Wolves should expect to see an uptick in physical energy alongside their creativity. 

10:30 pm - 11:30 pm: Wind down from your busy day during this hour. Relaxing activities like reading, watching TV, or listening to podcasts are encouraged. Our best sellers may also help wolves unwind.

Sleep: The exact time to head to bed depends on how intense your day was. An excellent window to aim for is 1-2 hours after your wind-down time. The  wolf chronotype can usually expect this between 12 am and 1 am. Notorious for having issues getting into bed at a reasonable hour, we make an all-natural sleep aid called Deep Sleep specifically for people with the wolf chronotype who have a hard time settling down to go to sleep. It helps you calm down and eases you into a deep restful sleep so you're able to easily wake up the next day feeling refreshed.

 

The Best Diet for the Wolf Chronotype

Wolves need lots of energy in the morning to kick-start their day. Therefore, skipping breakfast should never be considered for the wolf chronotype as it can affect their energy later in the day.

While most people wouldn't consider breakfast at 10 am, wolves love to get up later to start their day. A hearty breakfast is a key to getting the most out of a wolf's day, so look at the following options as excellent choices for a morning meal: 

• Eggs and hashbrowns with orange juice 
• Oatmeal bowl with berries 
• Greek yogurt with nuts 
• Toast with peanut or almond butter 
• Kale and egg wrap a on whole-grain tortilla

Other Tips for the Wolf Chronotype

You started this blog by asking the question, "What chronotype am I?" 

If you love to stay up while the rest are sleeping, you are a  Wolf. 

Here are a few more tips for those in the wolf chronotype camp to stay healthy and happy while still having productive days.

• Don’t let those two bursts of creative energy go to waste. Wolves should plan their most strenuous tasks in the noon and the evening to really hit a creative stride. 
• If you know that mornings are not for you, try to do work at night and spend less time doing work in the morning that won’t be up to your regular standard because you are still waking up. 
• Take colder showers in the morning. The cold water can help you become more alert and awake. 
• Drinking water throughout the day can help extend those hours you experience bursts of energy and reduce those slow morning wake-ups.
• Pop in those headphones in the morning. Listening to music can actually make you more alert and awake faster so you can cut out those 3 or 4 cups of coffee you might think you need. 

We hope these tips will help you wolves make the most out of your day.