Is your nighttime work focus actually better than daytime? Biorhythms? Habit?
Introduction
We often face tasks while at work that we cannot complete during the day. If you have low level anxiety or suffer from perfectionism you may procrastinate your work through the day. But, this is not always a problem. Then when the deadline of night comes along, your body shoots out a little cortisol and you feel alive, clear-minded and focused. Then you may start to feel a little wired as the night goes on.
Some recent research has shown that you can get more work done at night. However, you must still get enough sleep afterwards. For night owls, this is even more true.
There are two reasons why some people are more focused and can work more productively in the evening They are: 1. because you are more relaxed and 2. there are less distractions.
This is true not just for night owls, but for most workers in general.
More Relaxed at Night
At the end of the day, most workers breathe an audible sigh of relief—the major tasks are done, and your mind is free until tomorrow. For some this means that their minds shut off for the evening, but for vampires it can provide a burst of motivation.
This is because we are more relaxed if there is less expected of us at that particular time. Chances are, your boss or coworkers won’t be calling you at midnight or 3 am.
Sense of Relaxation
There is also the sense of relaxation that comes with:
- Lack of expectation for news or communication.
- New laws, policies, or major updates are not likely to be released at night.
- You don’t expect to make or receive phone calls from associates or your boss.
- There will likely not be new work assignments designated in the late evening hours.
This lack of expectations allows your mind to relax and makes you better prepared to complete work tasks efficiently.
Fewer Distractions
There is much less going on in the evening than during the day, including:
- Minimized contact with others
- Less outside noises
- Fewer tasks to complete
When you are faced with limited external stimuli, your ability to focus improves drastically. People associate the day with activities such as commuting, fitness routines, school, and work, but our nights are generally considered open. The song “Night Time, My Time” comes to mind.
The truth is that during the day, there is stuff going on all around employees at work—its inevitable to get sucked in from time to time, which diminishes your ability to focus. At night, this is a non-issue.
Conclusion
The bottom line in all of this is that nighttime work focus begins mainly for night owls, as there are some diehard morning people who are most productive in the very early hours of the morning. However, for those night-dwellers, nighttime work focus is greatly improved because of being in a more relaxed state. They face fewer distractions that could hinder concentration. Yet, graveyard and night shifts are a rarity. Approximately three-fourths of U.S. workers work day jobs. They start their workday in the four-hour span between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Yet. as remote work remains a “thing” in the future of work, employees can set their own schedule to parallel the times to work that match their most productive period.
Flexicrew Support
Does your organization need more 2nd or 3rd shift workers? Flexicrew has willing, hard working shift candidates available Right Now! Contact Flexicrew Staffing today and we will quickly deliver those night owls with nighttime work focus your organization needs.