Most Of Us Aren't 'Night Owls' Or 'Early Birds' – We're 'Bears'

Sometimes, it feels like there’s a battle taking place between “night owls” and “early birds”, sometimes called “larks”.

Some research suggests that those who thrive at night have “superior cognitive function” compared to “early birds”, while those “larks” might enjoy some extra health benefits.

But, according to Dr Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and clinical sleep specialist, 55% of us don’t fit either of those labels. 

Instead, he shared, the majority of us have a “bear” chronotype, or natural sleep pattern. 

What is a “bear” chronotype? 

The doctor wrote that so-called ‘bear chronotypes’ are “go-with-the-flow types with middle-of-the-road sleep-wake preferences”. 

They follow the pattern of the sun, he told Psychology Today, and “are most alert and productive during the middle of the day, from late morning through early afternoon”.

‘Bears’ might have a fluctuating sleep schedule, failing to get enough sleep in the week and compensating for that on the weekend, he added. 

That can leave them with “sleep debt”, which can knock your body clock out of rhythm.

Typically, The Sleep Foundation suggested, ‘bear’ chronotypes have a 7am wakeup time, may be most productive from 10am-2pm, and have a natural bedtime of 11pm.

UCLA gave the ‘bear’ chronotype a broader “productive” period, from 11am to 6pm.

How many of us are “night owls” or “early birds”?

According to Dr Breus, only 15% of us have a natural “early bird”-style chronotype, and roughly the same amount are “night owls”. 

And while they didn’t use the ‘bear’ term, a 2012 paper found that as much as 60% of the population has a “mixed” chronotype (neither night owls nor early birds).

Women are slightly more likely to be “early birds” than men.

No matter what your natural chronotype, though, research suggests that we should all fall asleep before 2am for healthier ageing.