Let's not start with the basics - basics are boring. Let's jump to the interesting bits, just like the newspapers do - you know, the weekend lifestyle supplements which tell you that if you just align your sleeping pattern to that of a wombat (or whatever), you can unleash your inner hunter-gatherer, strip away the stresses of modern life, and realise your true potential. Or something. That stuff - the interesting stuff - is where we want to get to; the stuff that saves you time, reduces your stress levels and makes you well, just... better.
There's good news and bad news here. The good news is that there are real benefits to be reaped if you consider your chronotype carefully, and these benefits are relatively easy to realise. The bad news is that a lot of the wolf-owl-hunter-gatherer stuff is nonsense... and I'm afraid we do need to look at the basics.
The Basics
Let's start very basic:some animals are nocturnal, others – including humans – are diurnal – they are mostly active during the hours of daylight. We humans also exhibit circadian rhythms. This means that we tend do things at about the same time each day, in a roughly 24-hour cycle. These rhythms are largely endogenous (built-in) but partly entrained (adjustable) and centre round a number of biochemical circadian oscillators in our bodies which drive our biological cycles - sleep, feeding, and so on... Our oscillators are entrained by environmental triggers called zeitgebers (from German 'time-givers'). These act as external cues to determine what-we-do-when - the most important triggers being daylight and nightfall, which – in our natural state – trigger waking and sleep.
Chronotypes
Within the category of 'diurnal', there are several sub-categories, representing exactly how and when an animal - especially a human animal - sleeps. These are known as chronotypes. Some of us naturally like to wake before dawn, others prefer not to sleep till long after nightfall; some of us have an period of wakefulness in the middle of the night, other have an inbuilt need for a nap in the middle of the day, and so on. Your chronotype identifies the extent to which you behave like a morning-animal or an evening-animal. The terms 'morningness' and 'eveningness' are used to describe where in the day you prefer your peak of activity, and there is a simple test to put a number on this preference.
The Hype
Now, at this point a sensible (ie skeptical) teacher might ask 'So what?'. What difference does it make if you're a 'morning' or 'evening' person? Well, the interesting aspect is that different chronotypes do seem to have quite distinct characteristics. How come? Well, it makes sense that a group of animals that wake up at the same time will tend to eat at the same time, work at the same time, and so on... It also makes sense that your physiology should reflect your chronotype – in the same way that nocturnal animals tend to have big ears... but can your chronotype really influence your personality? Your appetites? Your creativity? Your sex drive, for heaven's sake?
Well, yes... kind of. Research has shown that different human chronotypes do tend to display different behaviours, and this is the central idea of chronotypes as a time-management tool: people who share the same chronotype share the same traits. They share the same challenges, and face the same problems. So... the solutions which have been proved effective for others who share your chonotype are likely to work for you.
Of course these research conclusions may be fascinating, but that doesn't make them helpful. They represent insight, not knowledge. If a piece of research proves statistically that blondes DO tend to have more fun, that doesn't help an over-worked fair-haired teacher. They are still over-worked. You are not your hair-colour, you are not your chronotype. You're just you. It's therefore really important that you approach this stuff wearing a skeptical, common sense hat. Most important: before acting on any advice, you should establish how strongly you are 'typed'. if you're a moderate or borderline type, then you are unlikely to see any spectacular improvements.