Are You A Temporal Or Locational Pooper? Knowing Could Help You Avoid Constipation

Chronic idiopathic constipation is no joke. Affecting between 9% and 20% of Americans, it’s more than just an occasional inconvenience; it’s a persistent issue that can cause infrequent, difficult, or unsatisfying bowel movements. And while plenty of medical factors can contribute to this condition, experts say some of it may come down to something surprisingly simple—when and where we prefer to poop.

According to gastroenterologists Dr. Kyle Staller of Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Benjamin Levy of the University of Chicago, bathroom habits are more nuanced than we often admit. According to the duo, there are two types of poopers, and depending on which one you are, going to the loo can be a complete hassle or require serious timing to produce a good and healthy bowel movement.

1. The Temporal Pooper

Temporal poopers are creatures of habit. They don’t just go when nature calls, they go when the clock calls. Morning? Post-lunch? Before bed? There’s a window, and if they miss it, they’re stuck waiting until the next scheduled opportunity.

Dr. Staller explains that this isn’t random. Our digestive systems follow a circadian rhythm, the 24-hour cycle that regulates various biological processes in our bodies. Overnight, the colon quiets down. But once we’re awake—and especially after we eat—the gastrocolic reflex kicks in, prompting those all-too-familiar bowel urges. For some people, this rhythm becomes so predictable that the brain starts to anticipate it. The result? If you’re not in that “poop o’clock” window, the urge often just doesn’t come.

The good news? Missing your usual time isn’t a crisis. As Dr. Staller pointed out during an interview with SELFpublished April 30, “Some people poop multiple times a day, and that’s considered normal. Others will only go three times a week, and that’s also normal.”