Are you a Light Sleeper But Function Normally? Here are 3 Signs You Might Share a Rare Genetic Trait

Are you someone who goes to bed at 11pm but somehow feels fully refreshed and rested even when waking up as early as 4am? You might just be a member of the exclusive “short sleep gene” club! According to research, all signs point to our circadian rhythm being genetically predetermined, and as a result, a small segment of the population was born with the ability to function perfectly normally on limited sleep. This is all thanks to a genetic mutation that is pretty much a superpower if you want to know the truth. These lucky individuals can sleep for as little as 4 hours and wake up ready to seize the day and climb mountains! We mean that figuratively, although as you’ll see below, it’s probably literal as well.

You can thank University of California-San Francisco researcher Ying-Hui Fu and her colleagues for this “short sleep gene” discovery. In 2009, this research team found changes in the DEC2, ADRB1, and NPSR1 genes that were connected to people needing much less sleep than usual and waking up feeling fine, without the negative effects of not getting enough sleep. The study’s participants were family members, confirming the genetic inheritance of these traits. So what are the benefits of only needing around 5 hours of sleep per night, max? So glad you asked! Here are three of them. 

1. Increased productivity

Hate dragging yourself out of bed every morning? Not if you’ve got the short sleep gene! There are clear indications that people who need less sleep make good use of those extra hours. They are often Type A, ambitious, and have a positive outlook on life and a charming personality that attracts others. Unsurprisingly, many of the subjects carrying this gene were marathon runners, exhibiting exceptional physical and physiological traits. Additionally, they do not suffer from any of the negative consequences associated with sleep deprivation, including obesity, diabetes, depression, and heart disease.