What’s a night owl?

DW (English)

Early risers are often seen as more productive and successful, much to the chagrin of night owls. In reality though, night owls just operate on a different body clock, and do their best work when others are fast asleep.

Transcript

00:00What are night owls?

00:03Everyone's asleep, apart from one, a night owl with work undone.

00:09Life as a night owl is anything but easy.

00:13In Germany though, early birds are actually in the minority.

00:18Morning larks get up around 7am and go to sleep at about 11 at night.

00:24Night owls go to sleep much later and get up later too.

00:29They're busy when everyone else is asleep.

00:32But does that mean they're lazy?

00:36The idea that morning larks are more productive has been around for a long time.

00:40The early bird gets the worm.

00:43First come, first served.

00:46But night owls are just as productive it turns out.

00:50It might be trendy to go to the gym and then start work before dawn,

00:55but for a night owl that's a nightmare.

00:59That's just not when they're at their best.

01:03Tired workers cost the German economy nearly 57 billion euros a year.

01:09In some professions fatigue can be dangerous.

01:12A pilot or surgeon who's tired can cost lives.

01:18Working from home has made life easier for night owls.

01:22And maybe a quick nap at the office could help too.

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