Written by Finnola Busbridge, Health Advisor
Do you like to get up early in the morning? Or do you just have trouble getting going in the morning? Maybe you notice that you can't always concentrate as well during the day. Want to know how to be as productive as possible during the day? By discovering what your chronotype is, you can plan your day as optimally as possible!
A chronotype, what is it?
A chronotype is a term used to indicate what your natural sleep-wake pattern is. Your energy level and degree of concentration fluctuates throughout the day. For example, one person is more of a morning person, while another comes alive in the evening. By knowing which chronotype suits you, you can ensure that you do the right tasks at the right times to increase your productivity.
Daniel Pink , author of the book ' The Right Time ' , indicates that timing is essential. 20% of our performance is determined by when we are active. By getting to know your pattern, you can make sure you are doing the right work at the right time, which improves your productivity and boosts your creativity.
Calculate your chronotype!
Daniel Pink distinguishes 3 chronotypes: early birds 'larks', night owls 'owls' and intermediate 'third birds'. The intermediate group falls between early birds and night owls.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What time do you normally go to bed?
- If you don't set an alarm clock, at what time do you naturally wake up?
- What is your center point?
Suppose you normally go to bed at 11 p.m. and you wake up at 7 a.m., then your midpoint is at 4 a.m. You are an early bird.
If your midpoint is at 03:00 or earlier, then you are an early bird. If your midpoint is at 05:00 or later, you are a night owl. If your midpoint is between 03:00 and 05:00, then you fall into the intermediate group.
What tasks do you do at what time?
Most people are early birds or intermediate (80%), the remaining 20% are night owls. As an early bird, you are sharpest in the morning and so that is when you can best do tasks that require high concentration. Whereas, for night owls, it is better to do creative work in the morning.Below is indicated for each chronotype when you can best perform which tasks.
This insight gives you more self-direction because you can better organize your schedule and will achieve goals more easily. You will probably also have more energy because you will be more efficient and productive. Besides being interesting to know what your own chronotype is, it's good to know what your colleagues' are. For example, you'll know when it's best to schedule brainstorming sessions and when they like to do analytical work.
For managers, this form of smart time management is also a great investment. Without investing money, employees can realize increased productivity!