Sleep: it’s free. And we all want more of it, so why is it so hard to get? Specifically – that consistent, restorative, uninterrupted, eight-hours-a-night kinda sleep. Which is why we’ve enlisted Sydney-based sleep expert Olivia Arezzolo to solve our myriad of sleep concerns with our new editorial series Sleep Well Wednesdays. Check back each week and you’ll be off to the land of nod before you know it.

Knowing your sleep personality means you can tailor your daily schedule to what works best for your body. By taking into account your circadian rhythm preferences and knowing your chronotype, you can schedule your sleep and daily rhythms according to your personal biology.

Not only does this help you fall asleep faster and minimise 3am wake ups, it also optimises productivity and grants insight into your vulnerability for health challenges such as anxiety and depression.

Who doesn’t want to sleep better, feel better, and function better? It could be as easy as simply adjusting the times you go to bed and wake up. 

What time do you prefer waking up?

1. Before 6.30 am

2. Between 6.30-8.30am  

3. After 8.30 am  

What time do you like going to bed?

1. Before 10 pm 

2. Between 10 pm-12 am 

3. After midnight 

How do you feel upon waking?

1. Fresh and full of energy 

2. Dozy, but after a coffee or tea, I’m good to go

3. Exhausted – don’t speak to me for hours 

Compared to others, you need:

1. Less sleep: you could easily get by on under seven hours

2. Around average: seven to nine hours

3. More sleep: you could sleep for 10+ hours

When do you find yourself most productive?

1. Before midday

2. Between 10 am-2pm 

3. In the evening

At work, people most describe you as:

1. A leader 

2. A team player 

3. A social butterfly 

At work, what’s your key strength? 

1. Analysis, strategy and organisation 

2. Getting what needs to get done, done

3. Creativity and unconventional ideas 

Do you consider yourself:

1. Future-oriented

2. Balanced 

3. Present-oriented

How likely are you to be found out and about on a weeknight?

1. Rarely – I’m typically the first to leave 

2. Often, but it’s not characteristic of me 

3. Regularly

Compared to others, your overall health is:

1. Better

2. Average 

3. Worse 

Do you find it easy to be healthy – e.g. sleep sufficiently, exercise and eat well?

1. Yes – I’m renown for it

2. Sometimes yes, sometimes no

3. Temptation usually gets the better of me 

What’s your biggest challenge?

1. Perfectionism 

2. Self-motivation 

3. Sleep 

Add up your numbers for the results 

12-19: Lion 

Early to rise and early to sleep, Lions make up 10-15 per cent of the population. You’re an ambitious go-getter who likes to exercise at the crack of dawn, jump straight into work and have an early finish. Head to bed early to make the most of your sleep cycle. 

20-28: Bear

Begrudgingly waking around 7 am, Bears make up about 50 per cent of the population. You need a few cups of coffee to get going in the morning but once you power up mid-morning, you can ride the productivity wave until around 3 pm, which is later than Lions who tend to crash earlier. You are the most adaptable of the three chronotypes and are mostly OK if you head to bed a little earlier or a little later. 

29-36: Wolf 

Rarely seen before 9 am if they had the choice, Wolves make up about 10-15 per cent of the population. You’re a typical night owl and will happily stay up until the early hours. If you can find a role that lets you start a little later, you’ll be able to make the most of that early morning snooze.