While some people jump out of bed fresh and refreshed after a few hours’ sleep, there are late risers who feel like they’ve spent half the day lying in bed and slumbering. Terms such as owl and lark, as early risers and late risers are often called, are well known. But is it that simple? In this article, we would like to take a closer look at the topic of late risers and shed some light on what exactly they are, what makes them late risers and whether they really are sleepyheads.
Evening person Owl
Early risers, i.e. all those who are fit and alert early in the morning, are commonly referred to as larks. Late risers, on the other hand, like to sleep in late and are called owls. However, science has since discovered that – as in all areas – there is not just black and white when it comes to sleep, but also many shades of grey, so-called mixed types, which exhibit different sleep and tiredness behaviour. The most obvious difference between larks and owls is that larks are tired earlier in the evening, so they go to bed early and then wake up early the next morning. Owls, on the other hand, are awake and fit until late in the evening and hardly get out of bed in the morning when the alarm clock rings.
Which sleep type you are cannot be trained. It is determined individually and genetically. Our chronotype, i.e. our internal clock, determines our very personal sleep rhythm, whether this is called owl, lark or mixed type.
If you would like to find out more about this topic, we recommend reading the article Which sleep type are you – owl or lark? in our blog.
When are you considered a late riser?
The term ‘late riser’ is often used in contrast to ‘early riser’. However, there are also early risers who can be late sleepers, especially if they need to sleep longer than others in order to wake up refreshed in the morning. Instead of early risers, it is better to speak of short sleepers.
In science, a late sleeper is a person who sleeps more and longer than average from childhood onwards. Adult long sleepers may therefore need to sleep for 9 to 10 hours or more, whereas the average sleeper is fully rested after 7 to 8 hours.
It has been shown that the sleep of long sleepers is structured differently to that of short sleepers. Long sleepers are more often in the phases of light sleep and REM sleep than those who only need little sleep. This suggests that the sleep of long sleepers is less effective and that they therefore need to sleep longer in order to achieve full regeneration and recovery.
Our sleep is therefore influenced by several factors that are genetically anchored in us: our personal internal clock, the chronotype that determines when we get tired and should go to bed, and our very own need for sleep, which indicates how long we need to sleep in order to wake up really fit and refreshed.
Late risers don’t have it easy
In our performance-orientated society, late risers have an unjustifiably negative reputation, as they are often seen as lazy, sluggish and sickly. They are ridiculed for being sleepyheads, gloomy and sleepyheads. On the other hand, early risers who are fit and alert early in the morning are seen as high performers who are hard-working and full of drive. They are generally considered to be sportier, healthier and smarter. This image is propagated and promoted on social media in particular.
This general perception is primarily based on the fact that it is common in our society to get up early and go to work and school early. Short sleepers have few problems with these generally established time constraints. However, the situation is different for long sleepers. Contrary to their genetically determined need for sleep, they have to get up much earlier than their body dictates and therefore often suffer – at least in the first few hours after waking up – from great daytime tiredness, listlessness and reduced performance.
What consequences can getting up early have for late risers?
In fact, it is not healthy to disregard your personal sleep rhythm and your own need for sleep on a regular and long-term basis. The consequences of too little sleep can include infections, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression and more. Sleeping long and soundly is therefore definitely beneficial to the health of late sleepers and is recommended. And even if you’re not a late sleeper, you can of course sleep in as late as you like without hesitation. After all, a good day starts at night.
In our extensive billerbeck range, we have the right bedding for every sleeper. For late sleepers who want to make themselves really comfortable in bed, we recommend our Brilliant camel hair duvet, which regulates moisture and temperature and is highly self-cleaning. It comes with the popular LATEXI® neck support pillow, which is extremely comfortable even when lying down for long periods and prevents tension in the neck and shoulder area. Another plus point is that the pillow is also suitable for allergy sufferers. The breathable and temperature-regulating VITALANA® long-sleeper topper offers a particularly cozy and high level of lying comfort and also has an excellent self-cleaning effect.
If you also find it difficult to get out of bed when the alarm goes off in the morning, we recommend our article Grumpy in the morning? This will make it easier for you to get up!, in which we have compiled practical tips for anyone who would rather sleep longer.
