Introduction

According to a survey, 87% of Canadian professionals want to try chronoworking to better align their work hours with their natural sleep patterns,

Benefits of Chronoworking

The survey by recruiting firm Robert Walters found that 48% of professionals believe chronoworking could improve their mental health, while 33% think it would boost focus and productivity.

Expert Opinions On  Chronoworking

“Chronoworking may feel like a somewhat radical reform to hours, but at a closer glance, we may find that professionals’ chosen hours would not be that far out from the traditional 9-5,” commented Martin Fox, Director of Robert Walters. “Simply putting more power into the hands of professionals could be enough to help boost morale, sleep, and productivity. What this trend does highlight is the desire for employees to shape their work-life around their personal needs, rather than be dictated too.”

At the same time, Fox warned organizations who give chronoworking a try not to expect perfection from the get-go, or conclude that it is impractical or infeasible based on early experiences and results: “As with any new approach, chronoworking may not suit every person or organization. However, its popularity highlights the need to explore new strategies to enhance retention and productivity. Employers must learn to adapt to remain competitive and attract the best talent.”

Understanding Chronotypes for Effective Chronoworking

According to the Sleep Foundation, there are four “chronotypes”:

• Lions—early birds who wake up before everyone else.
• Bears—those who naturally sleep and wake within traditional hours.
• Wolfs—night owls who stay up late and wake up later.
• Dolphins—people who struggle with falling and staying asleep, leading to irregular sleep patterns.

States the Sleep Foundation: “Sleep chronotype is closely related to circadian rhythm, which controls the day-to-day sleep-wake cycle. When a person’s natural chronotype comes into conflict with the demands of their schedule, this is termed social jetlag. People with a later chronotype may feel tired from early wake-ups, while early risers might struggle with evening activities. For both groups, trying to perform activities that require concentration or creativity may be difficult at non-peak times.”

Economic: Impact of Sleep Deprivation

A report found, Canada loses 80,000 workdays annually to sleep deprivation, costing $21 billion. Even more alarmingly, the risk of mortality surges 13% for individuals who are consistently not getting enough sleep.

“Sleep deprivation adversely affects individuals through negative effects on their health and well-being and is also costly for employers due to lost working time by employees, which is associated with large economic losses,” stated the report. “Solving the problem of insufficient sleep represents a potential ‘win-win’ situation for individuals, employers and the wider society.”

________________________________________________________________________________

SOURSE:

Fussy or Flexi: 87% of professionals would like to trial ‘chronoworking’

Chronotypes: Definition, Types, & Effect on Sleep

More than a quarter of Canadians get fewer than 7 hours of sleep