What’s Your Chronotype?

By: Jennifer Post
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
What’s Your Chronotype?
Image: Marcia Straub/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

If you don't know what a chronotype is, you're not alone. A chronotype is basically your biological clock and what sets the patterns for your sleep and daily schedule. If you try and fight against what comes naturally to you, it could cause consequences in the form of poor sleep, excessive tiredness and lack of productivity. Figuring out your chronotype and the coordinating animal can help you get better sleep and live an overall better life.

The animals that are associated with these patterns are dolphin, bear, wolf and lion. Based on how these animals act in nature and their sleeping habits, they have been carefully paired with humans who share the same traits. About 50% of the population falls into the bear category, another 15-20% are lions or wolves, and a small 10% of the population is a dolphin, the most sensitive sleepers. When your body decides it's tired and wants to go to sleep is actually due to the PER3 gene, so it's not really something you can control no matter how hard you try. You might be able to force earlier or later sleep, but your quality of life is most likely to suffer a little bit. So what's your chronotype? Take this quiz to find out!

How easy is it for you to fall asleep at night?
Not that easy
Pretty easy
I have no issues falling asleep.
I can sleep anywhere.

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Do you need things like noise machines or music to help you fall asleep?
I can't have any noise.
I'm sure that would be nice, but not needed.
On occasion
Not at all

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Have you ever been diagnosed with a sleep disorder?
Insomnia
I've never been tested for one.
When I was a kid
No, but I'm sure I have one.

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Without an alarm, what time do you naturally wake up?
Around 8 a.m.
Around 6 a.m.
With the sun
Later than most people

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Do you often get irritated with people?
Always
Not really
If they're being annoying
I try not to.

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What time do you try to go to bed each night?
10 p.m.
11 p.m.
8 p.m.
Midnight

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When would you say are the most productive?
Mid-morning
Before anyone else wakes up
Midday
Late afternoon

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Do you think you have an overtly stressful job?
Rarely
Not all the time
Most of the time
It happens.

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Are you easily woken up?
Too easily
Not easily
Not really, no
I can be woken up, but it doesn't happen a lot.

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Which of the below is most likely to wake up at night?
Any type of noise or movement
A bad dream
Nothing really
Bright lights

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On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night?
Probably like five restful hours
Around eight
Six is good for me
As many as I need

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What's your bedtime ritual like?
Reading until I fall asleep
Wash my face, lay in bed and fall asleep
Go to sleep when I get tired
Work until late and then fall asleep

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Does stress ever get in the way of you getting a restful night's sleep?
Very often
I don't think so.
Sometimes
Pretty rarely

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When you do wake up in the morning, do you wake up easily?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no
Very
It takes a few minutes.
I have to drag myself out of bed, but I do it.

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Do you wake up already feeling tired?
Usually
Not immediately
Never
I wake up feeling pretty refreshed.

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Do you try and avoid uncertain situations?
Yes
I dive in head first.
Only if I feel unsafe
Not at all

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If you can't fall asleep at night, what do you do?
Toss and turn until I get frustrated
Walk around
Eat a snack
Read a little

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What are you the most focused on?
Health
Work
Happiness
Productivity

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Do you often nap during the day?
I'd never sleep at night.
Very rarely
Mostly every day
I'm not a child.

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Would you want to wake up at the same time on non-work days as you do on days you work?
I don't want to, but I usually do.
That's ideal.
Doesn't matter either way
I like to sleep in.

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Do you look forward to going to sleep all day?
I get separation anxiety from my bed.
Not really
I like sleeping but I like being awake.
Some days

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Are you prone to making to-do lists?
Every single day
It's all in my head.
In the notes of my phone maybe
Only if I have a lot to do

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Have you ever done a sleep study?
Nope
No, but I want to.
I have!
I don't think I need to.

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Is eating past a certain time a no-no for you?
I eat when I'm hungry.
I don't eat past 7 p.m.
I try not to eat after dinner, whenever that happens.
I love late night eating.

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Do you think age has anything to do with sleep habits?
I don't think so.
It's more lifestyle.
Sleep habits change with time.
Not at all

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Which animal do you think is your spirit animal?
Fish
Tiger
Grizzly bear
Husky

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When you exercise, do you do it in the morning or at night?
I try for the morning.
I do it in the afternoon.
Right before lunch
Night works best for me.

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Are you usually hungry right when you wake up?
Starving
Not really
Depends what I did the day before
I get hungry around lunch time.

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Is your bed the number one place you like to relax?
It's the best place.
Definitely not
I can relax anywhere.
It's up there.

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Is it hard for you to get places on time?
It's hard for me not to be early.
I'm always on time.
Sometimes
I'm usually a little late.

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You Got: