Leverage

Harnessing your chronotype

It’s about that time of year. The sparkle of fall’s fresh start is dimming just in time for the holiday chaos to start peeking around the corner. Deadlines feel heavier. Motivation dips. That crisp September buzz starts giving way to fatigue and friction.

You’re showing up, but focus is fragmented. You’ve got a to-do list, but every task feels uphill. You start wondering: Am I just bad at staying disciplined? Did I lose my edge?

Pause right there.

This might not be about your effort. It might be about your rhythm.

Most of us are taught to manage time.
Block it, batch it, calendar it, maximize it.

But what really moves the needle, what gets us into flow, isn’t time management. It’s energy alignment.

Your brain isn’t meant to be “on” all day. You have natural peaks and dips, times when your focus sharpens, and times when your mind needs to drift. Ignore that, and you’re constantly pushing against yourself.

But tune in?
You tap into something powerful. Not just productivity, but ease, clarity, momentum.

The key is your chronotype. Your internal clock.

So, what’s a chronotype?

It’s your body’s natural rhythm across a 24-hour day: when your energy rises, when your brain clicks in, when your focus fades. You’ve probably noticed it without realizing:

☞That time when ideas just flow.
☞ That midday fog where you reread the same sentence five times.
☞ That surprising burst of energy after 9 p.m.

That’s your chronotype at play.

The trouble is, many of us are trying to force our most important work at the wrong time and judging ourselves when we fall short.

Let’s break it down.

LARKS

These early risers wake up ready to go. Mornings are go time: your brain is sharp, your willpower is strong, and your attention is clear.

If this is you:
Frontload the important stuff.
Do your high-focus work, such as writing, strategy, and analysis, before lunch.
Save admin, meetings, or creative wandering for later in the day.

OWLS
You warm up slowly, but hit your stride late. Mornings feel heavy, but by 4 or 5 p.m., you’re sharp, creative, and driven.

If this is you:
Don’t schedule your most important work first thing. Give yourself time to ramp up.
Stack your day so the deep dives happen in your peak window, evenings included.
And stop apologizing for “late-night brilliance.” It’s not a flaw, but a feature.

THIRD BIRDS
Somewhere in the middle. Your peak lands mid-morning to early afternoon, but it might shift with seasons, sleep, or stress.

If this is you:
Stay flexible, but intentional.
Track your highs and lows.
Structure your day around what’s true now, not what used to work last year.

BOLD ACTIONS

☞ Observe your energy, not just your time.
Keep a 3-day log: When do you feel focused? Fuzzy? Engaged? Drained?

☞ Shift one high-impact task into your peak energy zone.
Even a 30-minute move can unlock more momentum than hours of pushing uphill.

☞ Stay adaptive.
Your chronotype isn’t fixed. It changes with age, hormones, and life phases.
Check in with curiosity, not judgment.

REFLECTION STOP

When in your day do you feel most naturally focused?
What’s one thing you could move into that window this week?

It might be writing. Or tackling a tricky project. Or finally answering that big life question you’ve been avoiding.

Whatever it is, put it where your brain wants it.

You don’t need to hustle harder.
You need to listen better: to your body, your rhythm, your lived experience.

Flow isn’t just for peak performers or rare moments of inspiration.
It’s something we can design for, by aligning with the current, not swimming upstream.