We all know it - some colleagues are already in the office when the morning is still dawning, while others are only at work after 9 o'clock. From the perspective of some, the respective colleagues start work in the middle of the night, from the perspective of those, half the day is already over when the others only start. The early birds are often referred to as larks, the late comers, who then work late into the evening, as night owls. These terms not only describe bird species, but also characterize types of people. Owls are those who are active at night and have difficulty getting up early, while larks are early risers who enjoy the morning and are most productive in the early hours of the day. Even in times of working from home, this difference is still noticeable, even though online times have often aligned - those of the owls have shifted forward, and some larks now drink their coffee in comfort before logging into the system.
This contrast is not only reflected in our everyday habits, but also raises interesting questions about the biorhythms and social perception of these two types:
Owls are often eyed with suspicion, as their late start to work is associated with a lack of motivation, unproductivity or with laziness, whereas early birds are seen as dynamic, productive and efficient. These stereotypes are not only unfair, they also ignore the complex nature of the human biorhythm. Biologically speaking, the human biorhythm is an internal clock that is influenced by various factors, such as genetic predispositions, lifestyle and environmental conditions. People who belong to the “owl type” generally have a later onset of melatonin production, which means that they become really active in the evening while their performance is still (literally!) in deep sleep in the morning.
The owls' image problem is exacerbated by societal norms - particularly in the workplace, a strict morning work pattern is often practiced that favors larks. This structure can lead to owls having to adapt by ignoring their natural rhythms and limiting their productivity. This can not only affect their quality of life, but also have long-term health consequences.
Science has now shown that owls are no less productive or capable than larks; their activity times just don't match societal expectations. Companies that offer more flexible working hours or allow remote working often benefit from increased productivity and a better working environment. People are often more creative and innovative when they can work at their natural pace.
Our biorhythm determines whether we are owls or larks. This is largely determined genetically. Those who live against their internal clock are not doing themselves any favors. People who (have to) live against their internal clock are more likely to suffer from diabetes, mental and neurological disorders. This was the result of a study published by “Chronobiology International” (International Research Review Outlines Night Owl Health Risks – Chronobiology.com )
So what can be done? Fortunately, the topic is receiving more and more attention and is therefore creating greater awareness and acceptance of different working hours in society. Accelerated by the pandemic, there are more and more working time models, as many activities are online and flexible - simply due to internationalization - so that the possibilities for every owl and every lark to find the right workplace for their biorhythm are constantly increasing.
How do you recognize what your individual biorhythm is?
To find out whether you are an evening person (owl) or a morning person (lark), you can observe various aspects of your daily behaviour: What times do you prefer to go to sleep? Do you like to go to bed early or do you prefer to stay up late into the night? When is your energy level at its highest, when do you feel most productive? Do you enjoy social activities such as sports or meeting friends in the evening, or do you prefer to do this in the morning? Are you more able to concentrate in the morning or when the day is already well underway?
So what should you do to improve your quality of life as an owl?
Take advantage of the creative freedom you have for the day by bundling simple and complicated tasks and completing them at your most productive time of day.
At times when you feel tired and listless, you could do routine tasks, relax or withdraw from the day's activities.
It is important that you do not - or at least not permanently - have to work against your internal clock.
I publish these and more topics about work structure and balance, living abroad as an expatriate and German employment law judgements regularly on this homepage and on LinkedIn.
photo: owls / source: own