Your personality sometimes tends to shine best in the simplest of behaviors and sleeping is one of those.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on April 17, 2020. It has since been updated.
Everyone has a different bedtime. While some people enjoy waking up with the sun and sleeping with the stars, others can't help but hit the snooze button over and over again because their most creative work came out late last night. But these behaviors are more than just a habit or caused by factors like work or family. In fact, these very patterns might just be embedded into your DNA, according to a study done by 23andMe, Inc., the leading personal genetics company, reported PR News Wire.
Dr. Youna Hu, Ph.D., who led 23andMe's research on the paper said, "In this study, we set out to discover more about an individual's preference toward early rising and were able to identify the genetic associations with 'morningness' as well as ties to lifestyle patterns and other traits." Essentially, your sleep patterns can reveal a lot about your personality, including things you might not have even realized before.
So what does your unique bedtime sleep pattern say about you as a person?
If you're someone who already has their eyes open just before their alarm rings, you might be the kind of person who likes to be on schedule. You have a natural ability to follow the internal, sleep-wake clock that your body adopts. Because of how in-tune you are with your circadian rhythm (internal clock), you might be able to wake up without the need for your alarm, experts from Mattress Online told Elite Daily. However, they also explained that this doesn't mean you're suddenly a morning person.
"It could just mean that they are in a regular routine," the experts explained, "which your body then starts to learn, and may be able to wake up at the same time every day without a need for an alarm."
If waking up in the morning is not for you, then you might be the kind of person who feels more alive at night. However, according to certified sleep science coach and founder of SleepZoo, Chris Brantner, there are two types of people who prefer to burn the midnight oil — the night owls and sleep procrastinators. And there's a difference between the two. "Sleep procrastination is failing to go to bed at the right time when no external forces are keeping you from getting to sleep," Brantner explains to Elite Daily. You might be one if you like to lie in bed but be scrolling through social media or watching videos.
On the other hand, night owls are those who are more productive during the night hours. "Night owls are creative and productive at night," he said. "They do their best work at this time." You're a night owl if all your favorite projects or work tasks are better done during the later hours of the day just because your creativity starts flowing better then.
If you're an early bird, many might wonder how you're able to wake up just as the sun rises and then proceed to enjoy the rest of the day. You might be the kind of person to not just wake up early but also keep enough time to complete all your tasks and still leave time to spare before a class or getting to office.
"Waking up early can potentially mean someone is a morning person who is motivated and ready to face challenges head-on," Dr. Robert Glatter, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health, told the outlet. "It’s often a sign of being organized, and [of] someone who knows the value of careful planning in forging their life and career path." He also added that morning people are generally more positive about life and have a constant flow of energy in them throughout the day.
If you're someone whose finger instinctively knows where the snooze button is and can press it with your eyes closed, you might be the kind of person who just likes to be in the comfort of your own bed. Just because you don't want to wake up doesn't necessarily make you a night owl nor does it mean you're a morning person, says sleep expert and Boll & Branch ambassador, Dr. Michael Breus. It could just mean that you have the habit of sleeping too late. he explains that people like you tend to be a little disorganized and all over the place, but are also his "most creative patients, and that can be an aspect of a creative person, as well."
On the other hand, professional life coach Katie Sandler says that working that snooze button could just mean you're a mindful person. "Taking a few moments to start the day with an intention instead of falling back to sleep for a few moments like most people do, is a great way to utilize the comfort of your bed," she told Elite Daily.
Well, seeing as you know yourself best, you'll know which explanation matches you best.
References:
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms10448
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/is-being-a-morning-person-in-your-dna-300213554.html
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Panpreeda Mahaly / EyeEm
