Chronoworking Is A Workplace Trend We Can Get Behind

The 9-to-5 workday might be going extinct. A new scheduling concept called "chronoworking" allows employees to choose hours based on their particular circadian rhythms and daily clocks. The term has gained popularity thanks to British journalist Ellen Scott, who wrote about the concept in her newsletter "Working On Purpose." In discussing the changing professional landscape since the pandemic, Scott examined big shifts in how people work. They pointed out that both remote work is more common, as is hybrid work. On top of that, many companies are embracing the four-day workweek. And now, people are warming to the idea of allowing employees to tailor their own schedules.

According to Scott's newsletter, adopting a chronoworking lifestyle means only doing work-related tasks when you physically and mentally feel most energized. For those who experience a surge in productivity early in the morning, work shifts that enable them to reach peak performance at the crack of dawn are best. For those who work better in the afternoon and early evening, a later start might be a more efficient option. The rest of the time is meant for resting and resetting. In a way, it's a reminiscent of the pomodoro method, but instead of going off set intervals of work time, you're powering through when your mind is at its best.

The goal is that workforces adapt to what's best for employees, and allow greater flexibility. In turn, the idea is that productivity increases, because employees feel that they have greater space to prioritize personal lives as well. If getting sunlight during the day helps stave off work exhaustion, shift your work schedule to allow this. Chronoworking allows you to work optimally while prioritizing the rest of your life, too.

The philosophy of chronoworking is similar to other modern productivity tricks. Instead of working for a straight 8 hours with only one lunch break, you work according to your body's rhythms. If you're someone who feels the most focused and energetic early in the mornings, you would try and structure your working hours around dawn. Strong Women editor Miranda Larbi, a vocal fan of chronoworking, told Stylist, "I'm a typical morning bird; I wake up every day just before 5.30am and feel [energized] until around 3pm, so it makes sense for me to start work earlier in the day." The idea is that by working during your peak times physically and mentally, you'll be more productive and therefor, a better employee. The same philosophy applies to night owls; if someone peaks later in the day, they're going to do better work during those slots. 

Beyond empowering people to work when they feel best, it also cuts down on unnecessary busy work. Per Ellen Scott's Working On Purpose, one of the keys to executing chronoworking successfully is to limit the amount of weekly, and in some case, daily meetings. In fact, she recommends workplaces only use meetings if they're necessary for real-time collaboration. Otherwise, she suggests managers reevaluate whether their team chats could easily be turned into an email, as that allows for much greater flexibility.

Chronoworking isn't just about increasing your job performance. The phenomenon also means that you'll be able to mold your work schedule to prioritize your personal life, too. Whether it's family, relationships, wellness, creative pursuits, or all of the above, chronoworking enables people to feel that the parts of themselves outside of work are getting nurtured. HR expert Vit Koval told HRD why this was so essential. Parents would be able to adjust shifts so that they align with their children's education, thereby spending more quality time as a family. In turn, this gives employees greater satisfaction with their lives as a whole, instead of feeling like they have to sacrifice what's most important just to keep a job. 

Chronoworking also has to do with good, old fashioned rest. Those who need to can sleep later, while others can get to bed earlier, depending on one's natural sleep schedule. This applies to daytime rest, too. Most people, both early birds and night owls alike, feel an energy slump in the middle of the day. If people have adaptive work schedules, they can step out at this point to either nap or get some sunshine.