why shop manta sleep
Not a Morning Person? You Might Have a “Bear” Chronotype Schedule — Here’s What to Do
Do you need a solid 8 hours of sleep each night to feel refreshed?
Are you tempted to hit snooze a few times when your alarm goes off?
Do you fight the urge to snack all day long?
Are mornings challenging because you’re groggy and cranky, yet people insist on trying to interact with you before you’ve had your coffee?
If you answered yes to most of these statements, then your sleep chronotype (your body’s natural patterns of sleep/activity) most closely resembles the bear. (As opposed to the insomniac dolphin chronotype schedule!)
Congratulations, by the way, you’re in great company: 50-55% of the population falls into this category! Celebrity notables include Oprah, Stephen King, Arianna Huffington, Jeff Bezos and George Orwell.
So what does this mean for you? Well, following your chronotype’s schedule will:
- Get you the best sleep
- Allow you to take advantage of your natural peak productivity times
- Help you dodge the associated pitfalls
First, let’s take a look at your namesake’s typical schedule.
A Day in the Life of a Bear Chronotype
Bears are diurnal, meaning these solar-powered creatures are up with the sunrise and off to bed with the sunset. They slumber deeply, as only an apex predator in a cozy cave can.
Yogi’s exploits aren’t too far off the mark: after a slow start to the day, bears will dedicate most of their time to searching for food. Hunger doesn’t really play a role; a bear will eat as much as it can find. Like hobbits, no self-respecting bear would miss second breakfast or elevenses.
They’re most active in the late morning and early afternoon. But despite those jumbo fangs and massive claws, bears avoid confrontation and just want to focus on doing their bear thing: eating.
Now let’s examine how that translates to your life.
How to Work With Your Bear Chronotype Schedule for Optimal Energy
Maintaining a sleep schedule of 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. is ideal for bears. Though we usually recommend against it, go ahead and hit the snooze alarm once or twice if you’re able. Since you’ve got to navigate the morning through a groggy haze, you’ll need all the help you can get.
A healthy breakfast will help you shake off the brain fog. But be sure to avoid carbs, which will just make it worse. Opt instead for high-protein fare like eggs, quinoa, yogurt and breakfast meats.
It takes some time for bears to build momentum, so use your morning for busy work and scheduling your day. Save your most important tasks and meetings for 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m., when your energy level is at its peak.
The bear’s foraging instinct is the biggest problem to watch out for. Members of this chronotype are prone to snacking out of boredom, so be sure to keep food out of sight (or replace it with healthier options).
Oh, and before we forget, here are a few other ways to take optimal advantage of your bear chronotype schedule.
Bonus Tips for Those With a Bear Chronotype Schedule:
Because of your strong ties to the solar cycle, be sure to get enough natural sunlight during the day. A walk outside in the early afternoon will help to fight that post-lunch slump.
On the weekend, bears tend to sleep in or take long naps to catch up on lost sleep. Compromise with your instincts by sleeping in for 45 minutes just one of the weekend days and keeping your naps to 30 minutes.
A sporadic exercise regimen is another bear chronotype schedule characteristic, so be sure to include workouts in your routine — and stick with them.
In case you’d like to use your bedroom for something other than sleeping, the best times for sex are 7:00 a.m. or 9:00 p.m. (hormonally speaking).
Don’t fight those natural urges — work with them to get great sleep, maximize your energy and live your best life!
What sleep mask is best for the bear chronotype schedule?
You already know that not getting those 8 hours makes you a grumpy bear. And your main grump is having a hard time snapping out of your grogginess. Sure, you can hit the snooze button — but not more than twice.
What you need is a sleep mask that’ll help you clock in those 8 hours. Getting enough sleep will help you shake off the brain fog and growl (happily) through your day (with a few snacks in-between).
It’s perfect for your 30-minute weekend nap. Or that 45 minutes you get to lay in when grumpy bear has had a sleep-deprived week. Introducing Manta SLEEP Mask, our original and bestselling product.
Bears, when it comes to sleep, light is not your friend (or anyone’s for that matter). For complete darkness, real bears hibernate in caves. Fortunately, you don’t need to when you have a sleep mask that blocks out light 100%.
Now just how does this mask achieve 100% blackout? For one, it's the tapered eye cups. They attach to the head strap with a micro hook and loop closure so you can get the perfect fit. Their convex shape puts zero pressure on the eyes (and lashes).
And since they narrow towards the temples, side-sleeping bears won’t feel a lot of bulk.
It’s made from modal fabric that’s soft and breathable. And the micro hook and loop closure won’t snag your fur… er, hair. Don’t let looks fool you. The head strap is durable and made with triple-reinforced elastic. Goodbye, bacon strap!
Bears, now you can clap your paws in anticipation of deep and restful sleep.
Take our chronotypes pop quiz and learn about the history of the different animal sleep types. You'll also learn how to get the most out of your particular animal.
Sources:
Michael Breus, Ph. D., "Wolf Chronotype.” Vimeo, http://vimeo.com/165486658. Accessed 1 Jul. 2021
MIchael Breus, Ph. D., "The Power of When." Mindworks, Inc., 2016.
"How to Find Your Chronotype to Boost Productivity." Casper, http://casper.com/blog/chronotype/. 4 Nov. 2020
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website or provided through our blog, e-mails, or programs is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment that can be provided by your healthcare professionals.