We are all different. How we look, how we act, how we think and how we sleep. It is crucial to consider this variation in body clocks when trying to manage sleep, well-being and performance.
Even though all humans sleep, usually at night, sleep patterns can differ considerably between individuals which is also reflected in timings of productivity and performance peaks. This is because of our internal body clocks. We each have a slightly different body clock because of our physiology, our genetics and environmental influences.
Team Focus have developed a number of tools to help assess individual differences in body clocks and sleep patterns:
Athlete Chronometric Evaluation (ACE): The ACE is a chronometric tool designed specifically for athletes to access their body clock and sleep patterns as well as rhythms in training and performance. This tool provides a simple, time-effective way to identify issues and assess factors that could be influencing recovery and performance. The ACE should be administered by an expert consultant.
Professional Chronometric Evaluation (PCE): The PCE is designed to give professionals an overview of their sleep patterns, body clock and rhythms of productivity. This tool can be used to identify modifiable factors to improve workplace productivity and performance. The PCE should be administered by an expert consultant.
Chrono-Memory and Attention Test (CMAT): The CMAT is shortened version of the MAT which has been used by government departments (such as the British Army), professional associations (such as the Football Association – the FA) and a wide range of corporate organisations. It includes measures of psychomotor vigilance, reaction time, attention, memory and executive function. The CMAT has been designed to be administered at multiple times of day in order to assess circadian and diurnal rhythms in performance. It has been used in evidenced based research studies and published in peer-reviewed Journals (link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30357501/ ):
Facer-Childs, E.R., Boiling, S. and Balanos, G.M., 2018. The effects of time of day and chronotype on cognitive and physical performance in healthy volunteers. Sports medicine-open, 4(1), pp.1-12.