I first heard about chronotype from Matthew Walker, a neuroscientist who specializes in sleep. I found his lecture on sleep on the MasterClass app very interesting, and among the many topics he touched on, chronotype was entirely new to me. His explanation of melatonin was also enlightening, but that is for another article.
What is a chronotype?
According to Matthew, chronotype describes where our personal 24-hour circadian rhythm peaks and dips. It is not the same for everyone. The timing of when we feel sleepy and when we feel alert varies depending on our chronotype, which is largely determined by genetics. Whether we are a morning person or a night owl is therefore not a matter of choice. It reflects our innate biology, not laziness or bad habits.
Why Fighting Your Body Clock Backfires
Trying to fight our natural chronotype can be harmful. When our body wants to sleep but our schedule says we have to wake up and work, it creates constant internal conflict, which can affect metabolism, mood, and immunity.
Early types who stay up late or late types who force early mornings often end up with lighter, more fragmented sleep which leaves us more tired and less sharp. Even small drops in sleep quality can impair cognition, memory, and emotional regulation.
Hormones get out of sync, throwing off appetite and energy and triggering stress. Ignoring our chronotype also means missing our peak performance windows, so we think and react slower and tend to make more mistakes. Over time, this misalignment can increase anxiety, irritability, and the risk of long-term health issues like heart disease, obesity, and certain cancers.
The Five Chronotype Categories
Matthew named five broad chronotype categories.
– Extreme Morning Type: Prefers to go to bed around 8:00 p.m. and wake up around 4:00 or 4:30 a.m.
– Morning Type: Prefers to go to bed around 9:30 p.m. and wake up around 5:30 or 6:00 a.m.
– Neutral Type: Prefers to go to bed around 11:00 p.m. and wake up around 7:30 a.m.
– Evening Type: Prefers to go to bed around 12:30 or 1:00 a.m. and wake up around 9:00 or 9:30 a.m.
– Extreme Evening Type: Prefers to go to bed around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. and wake up in the mid-morning hours.
You can find out where you fall under through a simple self-assessment called the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), which sleep scientists developed and Matthew mentions as a quick and valid way to estimate your chronotype in minutes. There are a lot of free versions available online, you can take your pick. Here’s one from QxMD.
From Body Clock to Bedroom
No matter your chronotype, chances are, a cozy, inviting bed will make you want to turn in at any time. A bed dressed in the latest from Gourdo’s can be hard to resist. The Highland Heritage Collection by A-Fontane was launched through a showcase of its different designs at the Atrium of The Podium Mall.
The four options rolled out by Gourdo’s are the Royal Stewart tartan, Gordon tartan, Passion of Hong Kong tartan, and Lion Mountain tartan.
For half a century, A-Fontane has built its name to be among the world’s most respected when it comes to beddings. As a Hong Kong brand, it wanted to pay homage to its historic ties to Scotland, thus the spotlight on tartan patterns.
A Closer Look at the Designs
The Royal Stewart tartan dates back to the 1800s and is the most popular of all Scottish tartans long associated with nobility and Scottish pride, With its bold red base and vibrant overchecks of deep blue, green, yellow and white, it signifies royalty, ancestry, and elegance.
The Royal Stewart tartan dates back to the 1800s and has long been associated with nobility and Scottish pride
The Gordon tartan represents the quiet strength of the Scottish Highlands with deep greens, navy blues, and touches of yellow to capture the rugged beauty of the moor and forest. It stands as a symbol of honor, loyalty, and dignity.
The Gordon tartan represents the quiet strength of the Scottish Highlands, its colors symbolizing honor, loyalty, and dignity
The Passion of Hong Kong tartan was designed by Yuen’s Tailor as a special collaboration that celebrates the meeting of the classic Scottish tartan and the masterful craftsmanship of Hong Kong tailoring. This tartan echoes the vibrance of Hong Kong with its pattern of red, white, and blue. It symbolizes craftsmanship, creativity, and cultural connection.
Yuen’s Tailor is a well-known bespoke tailoring service in Hong Kong. In 1977, they were appointed by the British Ministry of Defence to create the uniforms and ceremonial clothing required for British troops stationed in Hong Kong, including specific tartan kilts and tunics. The owner, Bonny Yuen, learned from master tailors and built links with genuine tartan mills in Scotland.
The Passion of Hong Kong tartan celebrates the meeting of the classic Scottish tartan and the masterful craftsmanship of Hong Kong tailoring.
Yuen’s Tailor is also behind the fourth design, the Lion Mountain tartan, which was inspired by a sunset photo of Hong Kong’s Lion Rock Mountain. This tartan embodies strength, unity, and resilience. Its earthy beige and stone hues, accented with bold purple and black, mirror the steadfast courage of the city and its people, a modern tribute to heritage and heart.
The Lion Mountain tartan was inspired by a sunset photo of Hong Kong’s Lion Rock Mountain. It embodies strength, unity, and resilience.
Both designs by Yuen’s Tailor are registered in the Scottish Register of Tartans, Scotland’s official, online database for registering and preserving tartan designs.
Craftmanship and Comfort
All four designs are available in bed sheet sets (starting at P4,695), pillow cases (starting at P995 per pair), pillow shams (starting at P1,790), comforters (starting at P4,495), Euro squares (P1,950), and embroidered cushions (P1,500). In every item, classic tartan heritage is woven with modern sensibilities.
The sheets and pillowcases are made from 100% premium cotton in a sateen weave with 300-thread count for a luxuriously soft, breathable, and durable feel. The comforters have a 300 GSM plush fill encased in a 100 percent cotton sateen shell for balanced warmth, lightness, and lasting softness.
Where to Find the Collection
The Highland Heritage Collection by A-Fontane is available at the bed and bath section of Gourdo’s, where shoppers can also browse a range of pillows in various shapes and sizes, as well as towels, bathroom accessories, soaps, sprays, and candles.
Visit Gourdo’s at The Podium, Alabang Town Center, Glorietta 4, Trinoma Mall, UP Town Center, and SM City Fairview. Or shop online at Shopee and Lazada.
For pop-up store announcements and other updates, follow @gourdos on Facebook and Instagram.
