Have you ever told yourself, as you press the snooze button on your alarm for the fifth time, that you’re just not meant to be a morning person? Or do you find yourself staying up until the crack of dawn, when you’re well beyond your college partying years, because you’re a night owl at heart? CBD for sleep may be the answer to your nighttime woes.
Sleep is one of those things that none of us can live without. But, not all of us sleep the same way, and it turns out there’s a reason for that. “Sleep Doctor” Dr. Michael Breus says that we all have a special chronotype that makes our biological tick the right – or wrong – way.
The California-based clinical psychologist and sleep specialist told TODAY‘s Megyn Kelly that “some people are meant to be more productive in the morning than at night, and vice versa.”
According to Dr. Breus, we all have an internal clock and rhythm, which determines our natural sleep-cycle, that can be broken down into four different chronotypes: lions, bears, wolves, and dolphins. He claims that most people are actually bears, but knowing which chronotype you belong to can tell you the perfect time to do, well pretty much anything!
If you want to know if you sleep like a lion, bear, wolf, or dolphin, see the following descriptions to pinpoint which one you are. If you want to know how CBD and melatonin can support your sleep chronotype, keep reading to find out why this combination is critical for your success!
1. DOLPHIN
Dolphins are the rarest chronotype, with only 10 percent of folks falling into this category. They are light sleepers who tend to struggle the most with symptoms of insomnia. Dr. Breus describes dolphins as highly intelligent people who are also perfectionists.
“They tend to wake up feeling un-refreshed and feeling tired until the late evening when suddenly they feel more alert. They have productivity spurts throughout the day. They try to nap, but are often unsuccessful.”
2. LION
Dr. Breus says that 15-20 percent of us are lions. “They are up at the crack of dawn, full of energy, and doing what they do best.” People who fall into this chrontotype category are practical, stable, and conscientious. They’re overachievers who prioritize positive interactions and their own health and well-being.
Lions are most productive early in the day. Plan to do your workouts and important cognitive tasks earlier rather than later. Nighttime is when all the tools in your tool shed start losing their edge.
3. BEAR
According to Dr. Breus, about half of us are bear chronotypes. Bears prioritize happiness and avoid conflict. They’re also team players and social extroverts.
“Human bears” follow society’s schedule, and their sleep-wake patterns match the solar cycle. Bears tend to hit the snooze button a few times in the morning, so they should plan on crawling into their den early in order to get in the solid seven to eight hours of sleep they crave.
4. WOLF
Of the four chronotype categories, wolves are the only “night owls” among the bunch. They make up about 15-20 percent of the population. They have a hard time waking up in the morning and tend to be the most productive at night. Wolves are creative critters, but they’re also moody, impulsive, pessimistic, and “march to the beat of a different drum” – which is totally fine by them.
Dr. Breus says that “A late night person is like a wolf. They are nocturnal. Their energy level is later in the day (early evening in fact).”
CBD + MELATONIN SUPPORTS ALL SLEEP TYPES
Bear in mind (pun intended), that no matter which sleep chronotype you associate yourself with, the truth of the matter is that we’re all subject to the schedules of our daily lives.
Wolves (the self-professed night owls) find it harder to be productive during the day because they go tend to go to bed late at night. If you’re a mama or papa bear, your kids may already be expert baristas, having learned long ago that coffee is the only thing that will wake you up in the morning.
Thankfully, CBD for sleep, particularly CBD + melatonin can work for any chronotype and gently adjust your sleep schedule to one that works best for your routine. Although it’s not a technically a sedative, CBD has anti-anxiety and antidepressant qualities, which make it easier to relax when you’re ready to go to sleep.
Melatonin, on the other hand, is a hormone that’s secreted by the pineal gland, and it’s responsible for regulating the body’s natural circadian rhythm. It’s made when it starts to get dark outside, but the blue light that comes from all our tech gadgets can inhibit or delay melatonin’s production. That’s why it’s important to shut off your computer, smartphone, and TV at least an hour before sleep.
Royal Queen Seeds sells a “Power Sleep” formula that is a combination of CBD and melatonin that work together to reduce the amount of time it takes you to get to sleep.
For a more comprehensive CBD for sleep, try Bliss Herbal’s sleep-specific line of capsules and tinctures. Their “CBD Sleep Formula” will help you fall asleep without the next-day drowsiness of traditional sleep aids, and also include mind and body calming terpenes, valerian root, and chamomile.
Whether you choose to try a pre-combined CBD+melatonin, or mix-and-match on your own, you’re sure to get the best sleep of your life. The two work synergistic ally to encourage a healthier circadian rhythm, which over the long time will lead to a naturally improved quality of sleep.
