Night Owl Pride Series - Part 3
Do you have trouble dragging yourself out of bed in the morning and find yourself more alert and creative at night? Are you one of those nocturnal creatures known as night owls? Welcome to the club.
In Part 1, I talked about radical acceptance of my nocturnal chronotype, which means being a night owl.
In Part 2, I talked about the science of chronotypes and working with our natural rhythms.
In part 3, I want to talk about the intricacies of being a night owl and productivity at the office.
As a night owl, I know firsthand the struggle of adjusting to a standard 9-to-5 work schedule designed for early birds. Working the night shift for a decade did not work for me either.
Since 2021, I made the switch to full-time freelancing. Most of my struggles as a nocturnal animal have magically disappeared since then. I recognize that making this switch is a privilege. Most of my friends are still working in corporate offices, where they have to clock in and clock out according to fixed hours.
I’ve compiled a list of accommodations that would have made a huge difference in my office life. While most of my writing is drawn from my lived experience, this one is about wishful thinking.
What would have kept me happy and productive at the office with regard to my chronotype?
Flexible Work Schedule
This one's a no-brainer. Allowing for a flexible work schedule can be a game-changer for night owls. Instead of requiring us to work traditional hours, we could be allowed to start our workday later in the morning or early afternoon and work into the evening or night. This flexibility can help us maintain a consistent sleep schedule and prevent burnout.
Work from Home
As much as we love our coworkers, sometimes we just need some alone time to get things done. And for night owls, working from home can be the perfect solution. The morning commute can be a nightmare for anyone, but for night owls, it’s a special kind of hell. Offering the option to work from home can be a huge benefit for us. It eliminates the need to commute during rush hour, which can add to our stress, thus disrupting our sleep schedule. Even morning people will agree with this one.
Adjustable Lighting
© Art by Paloma
Bright fluorescent lighting can be a real shock to our systems. It’s a sensory nightmare for me. Since night owls may have difficulty waking up early in the morning, dimmer lighting can be used in the morning to simulate sunrise and help us wake up gradually. Brighter lighting can be used in the evening to help us stay alert and focused. Plus, dim lighting is just more flattering.
Designated Quiet Spaces
Quiet spaces can be a valuable resource for night owls who need to rest during the day. These rooms can be equipped with comfortable seating, pillows, and blankets to help us get the rest we need. I’m not a napper but I benefit from non-sleep deep rest (NSDR). I learned the term from Dr Andrew Huberman.
Meetings
We night owls can feel like we’re living on a different planet than our early bird colleagues. Meetings that are scheduled later in the day can help us feel included.
What about working a night shift job?
It seems like a logical solution. I did it for a decade and decided it was not for me. Therefore, it’s up to the individual. Making my own hours is really the best solution for me. However, I can only speak for myself because night owls are not a monolith.
Working night shifts can have negative effects on both physical and mental health. Studies have shown that night shift workers are at a higher risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This is thought to be due to the disruption of the body's natural circadian rhythm, which can affect metabolic processes, hormone levels, and immune function. Night shift workers are more likely to experience sleep disturbances, fatigue, and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
A study published in 2021 found that healthcare workers who worked night shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic were at a higher risk of developing symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to those who worked day shifts.
Radical Self-Acceptance
Fellow night owls, we may have been born under a different star. We may have moonlight written in our genes. But fear not, for we are not alone in our nocturnal ways. We are part of a club that is just as exclusive as it is misunderstood. I’ve accepted my fate as a creature of the night, embracing my inner owl with open wings. I wish the same for you.
Are there aspects of your night owl experience that I haven’t covered in these 3 parts? Comment below!
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