Am I a Morning Person or an Evening Person?

What is an internal clock or body clock? 

First, remember that we possess an internal clock. You’ve heard of body clock, right? Well these two are the same. This clock signals when we get tired at night and when we awaken energised during the day. But that’s not all. This internal clock also signals other bodily functions like body temperature. Our temperature is at its lowest between four and six in the morning and highest in the afternoon. Usually, daylight helps our body figure out night time and daytime. But even if you are locked up somewhere without a clock and without regular light cues, and without regular meals, your internal clock rhythm continues to run.  

Multiple experiments have shown that, the inner clock of humans is not exactly 24 hours long but actually 24 hours and ten minutes. The duration of this rhythm also varies a lot from person to person. Numerous scientific studies have shown that some people may have a rhythm that is a few minutes longer than 24 hours, and others have it a bit shorter.  

So, now you are probably wondering how long your inner day is. Well actually, your natural cycle is tied to our genes! Our genes represent the code storing a multitude of information. But this information is not only there as words in a newspaper: these codes are to be translated into reality. Our genes are the masters of protein production and they produce the proteins that control biological functions and our inner clock. We can call these genes the “clock genes”. When there are enough of these proteins, a feedback signal is sent to stop the clock proteins production, preventing the genes from being read and producing more proteins.  Once the proteins are consumed, the genes will be reread which will restart the protein’s production and the whole cycle will begin again. And this entire process lasts about 24 hours which then represents our internal clock! 

Why is our clock 24 hours long?  

Remember though that we are not all the same. And these differences also depend primarily on our genes.  How your genes transcribe sleep-related proteins determines whether you'll be a morning person or a night person.  

Morning types are the ones that like to get up early and go to sleep early as well. This behaviour takes place because their genes produce clock proteins more quickly, and in turn, these clock proteins are broken down remarkably quickly. This results in having a cycle that is overall shorter than 24h.  

The evening type is the other way around: they wake up later but are also awake longer. Here the protein production and consumption are longer than 24 hours. These kinds of people are the ones that have to set the alarm every day to accomplish their daily duties.  

Being a morning type or evening type are the two extremes of a continuous spectrum. Most people are somewhere in the middle! Getting to know ourselves and the people around is critical to maximising our time and energy. Our gene transcription is also responsible for how much sleep we need to feel ready for the day. On average, an adult needs about 8 hours of sleep to get to the “optimal sleep” level. However, there are some who need less than that and some who need more than 8 hours.   

Key Takeaway 

Now you know that our sleep is biologically linked to our genes. In a world that operates around certain hours of the day, it is hard to not force yourself to stick to schedules that make it difficult for you because your genes are built that way. However, when situations permit, try to adapt your plans to your biological inclination. This way, you can boost your energy, productivity, and happiness. You’ll also be able to make the most out of each day in line with how your body is built. Truly, knowing your inner clock helps you awaken your best!