Ever noticed that web designers have this uncanny habit of being nocturnal? I also have been blessed with this ‘curse’ of being nocturnal so I know exactly what I’m talking about. Let us examine this habit of web designers world wide and vote – is it productive or should we stop it?!

I type this post at 10 minutes past midnight, and I sure am not ready to go to bed anytime soon. What is in the night that makes us work more? From my experience, I focus clearly at night and tend to get more covered the same time. During the day I’m simply not at my best. That’s why I doubt I’d ever be productive working a nine-to-five job. I’d commit murder!

We want to look at reasons why web designers work at night, as well as if its productive or counter productive. Enjoy.

I recently learnt that A genetic mutation called the “after-hours gene” may explain why some people are night owls, it is revealed in Science journal today. It could also hold clues for pharmacologists working to develop drugs to help people adjust to shift work or jet lag. There are further implications for the study of causes of some psychiatric disorders.

The altered gene, named “after hours” or Afh, is a variant of a gene called Fbxl3, which had not been linked to the body clock that keeps our metabolism, digestion and sleep patterns in tune with the rising and setting of the sun. The discovery involved scientists from the Medical Research Council Mammalian Genetics Unit, Oxfordshire, the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Cambridge, and colleagues based at New York University.

I went through a lot of interviews with web designers that work at night and why they work at night. Here are some short listed below:

1. The easy answer is that you’re a ‘night person’ which just means you function better at night. There’s nothing else I can really say.
But focus on the bright side. At night it’s quiet. You can really focus your energy on whatever you’re doing. It’s also shown that if you focus on something before you sleep, you’re much more likely to remember it in the morning.
Night people rock 🙂

2. Less distractions! Just not having the phone ring, solicitors selling cookies, the reduction of emails, and less chatter pays tremendous dividends to working at night. Your mind relaxes and opens up to a slew of creativity — it’s easy to get into the zone when you’re at ease.

So are you a night person?

What Is a Night Person?

A Night Person is an individual whose natural body rhythms are such that he or she is most active and alert during the evening and night and is least active and alert during the pre-dawn and daytime hours.

You know you’re a Night Person if…

• Sunrise comes as an unpleasant surprise.
• You call someone on the phone to just chat and discover that they’ve been asleep for six hours.
• You do your best work at 2 a.m.
• You finally force yourself to go to bed at 1 a.m. and then keep having brilliant ideas that you have to get up and write down.
• People who are perky or sharp in the morning appall you—and can run rings around you before noon, too.
• Birds start singing about the time you fall asleep.

So what are the disadvantages of working at night?

Working at night is bad on its own. It’s hard enough changing your body clock to deal with the graveyard schedule, but you also have to deal with the lack of social life or the opportunity to do errands during the day because you are already asleep by the time the sun is bright and shining. Plus, sustaining a night shift schedule can pose serious consequences to your health.

Disadvantages can also relate to amount, time, and quality of sleep. Most night workers (esp. web designers) may sleep for 5 hours alone. Also, health concerns can arise from poor diet and insomnia. Here are some more disadvantages:

• You will be totally useless in the morning
• You will sleep at embarrassing periods during the day and still never feel refreshed
• Unproductive and unable to produce materials of worth in the morning
• You will grouchy and sometimes rude…
• You feel normal only at night…
• You always think you ain’t normal!

and the advantages? (Which is why I’m writing this post in the first place)

• Convenience: You own your time and create your rules. You are your own boss.
• Time for other things during the day: Since I don’t have to work during the day, I can do anything I like. I can stroll, play outdoor games, go trouble making …lol, even on a Monday! Then when its 7pm, I start settling down to business. Normal, right? The common feeling is that the day shift is the most popular one, but this is no longer true. People choose the evening or night shifts out of choice because it gives them freedom to do other things while maintaining correct office duty.
• Productivity: Since you are working at a time when your body is most comfortable (according to your preferences), you will be most productive, You’ve slept earlier, your brain is clear, and the work comes off well.

Most times I find that my best works were done at night. I’m nocturnal. I’ve had friends, foes and well wishers alike tell me that it ain’t normal to work at night; I’ve got to rearrange my schedule! That’s like telling God to remake moi. No thanks.

Cheers.
Z