Laura Christoph helps students improve self-care through sleep

by Lily Collins
edited by Paul Lambert and Alena Masterson

(Photo: Micheal Breus)

Professor of Natural Sciences Laura Christoph told students and faculty how sleep can improve one’s health at her self-care event in the Manor on Friday, March 6th.

Christoph talked about health and wellness and how to improve sleep for an individual’s health benefit to 20 students and faculty.

She talked about how genes affect an individual’s chronotype, which influences when the body is inclined to sleep during a 24-hour period. Every person has their own Each chronotype is specific to every person.

She stressed that this subject was science-based but she thought “it was more important that, as a general student population, we get more into the application.”

The audience was able to determine their chronotype by using Michael Breus’ nationally known sleep quiz.

The chronotypes are represented by four animals: the dolphin, lion, bear and wolf. Christoph described the characteristics of each chronotype, dolphins are light sleepers who are often diagnosed with insomnia. “Dolphin types are anxious and have mind racing tendencies,” Christoph said.

Lion types wake up early with lots of energy, but by the evening they are usually wiped out.

Bear types have an internal clock that follows the rise and fall of the sun. “About 50 percent of the population is a bear,” Christoph said. “They need a good eight hours of sleep to function well.”

While wolf types have more energy at night, they still have to function in society. They have a hard time waking up in the morning but can usually get by without much sleep.

Christoph talked about the most compatible day schedule for each chronotype, emphasizing that “The prime thinking time, for all four chronotypes, usually falls between two and six p.m.” Working during prime thinking time is healthy for the brain. Following a productive schedule that allows appropriate time for sleep is important for the brain’s function and quality.

To take the quiz to determine which chronotype is the best fit, click here.

To see a compatible day schedule that fits each chronotype, click here.