Going with the Flow, Chronotypes and Happy Songs
I feel a bit like that little bird perched in the tree in the picture above . I took that picture a couple weeks ago, while walking with my husband, but it could have been taken today because the gloom-factor is similar. 57 degrees in early June, even in Pennsylvania, is a stretch. That bird caught my eye as we walked that day, because it sang out so uniquely, seemingly for its very own pleasure. I want to be like that bird, singing my own happy song on a gloomy day, simply for the joy of it. Maybe my writing is my bird song?
I came across a new concept recently, while looking through a list of classes being offered at the Wellness Center (that I don't belong to, but just stalk for their non-member offerings). The class was 30 minutes of spinning and then a 20 minute seminar on finding out your Chronotype. They lost me at spinning, because... well, let's just say, I don't want to be that close to my bike seat. I tried it once and it took everything I had not to slink out of that class right in the middle. If you spin - You. Go. Girl! (or Boy!).
Intrigued, I looked up chronotypes. Wikipedia says a chronotype refers to the behavioral manifestation of underlying circadian rhythms of myriad physical processes. A person's chronotype is the propensity for the individual to sleep at a particular time during a 24-hour period.
Essentially, the premise is that we are individualized in our biological clocks, hormones and energy levels - not a "one size fits all" reality. Michael Breus, Ph.D. (America's Sleep Doctor) wrote a book based on his research and findings: The Power of When. If you are interested, you can check him out in this youtube video: Your Pillow Unlocks your Potential - Google Talks.
He asserts that understanding your chronotype will help you know the best times to do things and work with your unique system. I have not read the book, but I did take the quiz to find out which category I fell into. You can take the quiz here: https://thepowerofwhenquiz.com/. If memory serves me correctly, it does ask for your email address, but if you do, the information is forthcoming instantly.
I believe the four categories are dolphin, bear, lion and wolf. I fell into the category of dolphin and when I read the details, it did make sense to me. The most notable insights were that dolphins often wake unrefreshed, that they are productive in spurts and work best alone. Other notable dolphins listed were Charles Dickens and Shakespeare.
It fascinates me how many ways there are to look at things, how much we are still learning about ourselves, collectively and individually. I think that give us more incentive, permission and encouragement to trust ourselves, our intuitions and our own bodies more. Maybe there is a reason you function better under a particular set of circumstances, even if it doesn't seem to make logical sense or work for others.
My scale finally moved. In the right direction. I weighed in at 172.8 this morning. So, overall, with the loss, gain, maintain, loss - I am down 5.2 pounds in 31 days. I'll take it. My calories for yesterday were guestimated at 1,650. I was at 1,050 before I ate out last night - a small salad with ranch dressing and a small cup of cheese, potato soup. I guessed high at 600 calories? But really I have no idea. But this is me, doing my best, not tripping over the myth of perfection.
Going with the flow...
Be extra nice to you today, especially if you are struggling. Even if you are in a dreary place, find a happy song.
Until next time... Be well!
~Tracy
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