All sleeping experts agree that our sleep patterns can reveal a lot about our lifestyle and personality. This is a direct result of the fact that the amount of time we sleep has a strong effect on our physical and mental health. It can affect our mood, weight control, focus and productivity at home and at work.

While not everyone needs the same amount of sleep, the sad truth is that as a whole, we sleep less then we need to. Forty-one million Americans sleep less than six hours each night, 25% of teens sleep six and a half hours, and not the recommended nine. With those facts in mind let's have a look at some of the more common sleeping patterns and see what they say about us.

The "Morning Person":

We all know the kind. They are the first people up in the house or the office, always with a smile on their face and bursting with energy. People like that tend to have regular bedtimes that don't vary during the weekends. They start the day with a decent breakfast to set them up for the rest of the day. If you want to be more of a morning person these are the steps you will need to follow, just keep in mind you will be less productive in the evenings. 

The "napper":

Some people just can't get through a day without a little nap to recharge them. While it might seem to be a bad thing and an indicator of a bad sleep schedule, napping is in fact really good for your body. Not only can it help with digestion but it can also increase productivity, reduce stress, lessen fatigue and lower the risk of heart disease. Some "enlightened" companies have even gone so far as to provide workers with a napping room for short breaks.

The "evening person":

The kind that shines when the sun goes down and study, work or party, into the early hours of the morning. These people will almost always need an alarm clock to wake up and will usually skip breakfasts, which will result in a disorganized meal schedule altogether. If you are that kind of person, be sure to find a way to adjust your life and start each day in a more relaxed fashion.

The "weekend sleeper":

It's very easy to spot these people, they sleep for about four to six hours a night, and slowly walk around with black puffy eyes during the day. To make up for the sleep deficit they sleep for a very long time on the weekends, maybe even spend an afternoon in bed. The extra sleep on the weekends might help them recover from the hard week but it has a negative impact on their life. Damage to the immune system, shorter attention span, mood swings and increase food and sugar cravings are just a few examples. If this is how you live your life, you'd best change your habits as soon as possible.

The "sleep lover":

If the snooze button is your best friend and you find it difficult to wake up, no matter how much you sleep, then this is you. There could be many reasons for this feeling, such as going to bed too late, a disturbed sleep pattern or even issues relating to insomnia. Whatever the case may be, you need to find better ways to wake yourself up so you won't be late in the mornings and stressed for the rest of the day. Use multiple alarm devices, and place them far away from you to make sure you don't only get up in the morning, but also get out of bed.