Why Night Owls and Early Birds Matter for Inclusion

Stephen Jasper unpacks the science of jet lag, chronodiversity, and the societal stigma around night owls, offering practical insights into how understanding our biological rhythms can foster productivity, wellbeing, and authentic workplace inclusion

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood is joined by Stephen Jasper to explore the world of chrono-diversity, jet lag, and the intersecting challenges of productivity and inclusion. The conversation dives into how different biological rhythms—whether you’re an “owl” or a “fowl”—can shape our experiences of time, fatigue, and wellbeing, especially in a workplace context increasingly marked by global connectivity and remote collaboration. Joanne and Stephen examine how large time shifts, such as international travel, impact cognitive performance and relationships, and why recognising variations in sleep patterns is critical for fostering a genuinely inclusive environment where all can thrive.

Stephen is a jet lag consultant and chrono-diversity advocate who started his professional life as a pharmacist before gravitating towards pharmaceutical industry roles that catapulted him into extensive global travel. This practical exposure led him to a PhD focused on jet lag, with a particular emphasis on how circadian rhythms affect international management. Based in Australia—arguably the jet lag research capital due to its distance from much of the world—Stephen now works to demystify jet lag and productivity, offering straightforward interventions for individuals and organisations alike. He has also published user-friendly books, children’s resources, and hosts multiple podcasts centred on the mechanics and management of chrono-diversity.

Throughout their discussion, Joanne and Stephen shed light on societal biases against night owls, the distinct differences between travel fatigue and jet lag, and the workplace implications of rigid nine-to-five cultures versus flexible, inclusive approaches. Stephen introduces innovative tools—such as blue light-emitting glasses—and shares practical advice for adjusting to new time zones, emphasising the power of sunlight and the pitfalls of common remedies like alcohol.

The key takeaway from this episode is the compelling case for embracing chrono-diversity as a vital component of inclusion. By understanding and working with our differences in sleep and productivity patterns, organisations can move beyond one-size-fits-all thinking and unlock not only individual wellbeing but also greater collective success. This episode encourages all listeners to reflect on their own rhythms and advocate for cultures that value everyone’s unique contribution, whatever the hour.

Viral Topic: Career Burnout in Healthcare: “And after about 10 years in the hospital system and you get burnout. I hear stories about, you know, the nurses, especially during the pandemic, how exhausting it was.”

Viral Corporate Travel: “And I think my craziest travel, the one that really changed my life was a three day trip to Buenos Aires.”

The Power of Sunlight for Wellbeing: “And it was sunny, you know, it was Winter, but it was sunny and that sunlight absolutely saved me. So sunlight is a key thing.”

Jet Lag vs. Travel Fatigue Explained: “That’s an exhausting journey. And you’ll be tired, but you won’t be jet lagged because you’re very similar time zone. There’s no travel fatigue.”

Supersonic Flights and Jet Lag: “Let’s say you boarded the supersonic jet and for that three hours there’s soft pillows and, you know, little meals and cups of tea and anything you could want, right? And you land in Melbourne three hours later, you won’t have travel fatigue because you’ve had three hours just sitting very comfortably. It’s like going to the movies. But the jet lag will be brutal.”

Circadian Rhythms and Airline Crew: “They don’t want you to open the blinds. It’s not for your convenience, it’s for theirs. Because let’s say you’ve got British Airways and they’ve got a crew based in London, they want to stay on London time because let’s say they do a flight to Bangkok, they’ll touch down, they’ll have a nice set and then they’ll be back on the plane the next day to come back to London. They want to stay on London time. They don’t want to be adjusting and they don’t want the sunlight in Bangkok when it’s still nighttime in London to interfere with their circadian rhythm.”

Viral Topic: Blindness and Circadian Rhythms

Viral Topic: The Power of Chronodiversity and Working from Home

Viral Topic: The Freedom of Flexible Work Schedules

Jet Lag Reality: “More people said that jet lag on return was worse than jet lag going out. Because when they go out that, you know, they’ll fly to America or the uk. They are running on adrenaline. They’ve got to do this and do this and go here and go there and go to conference and speak and da, da, da, da, da. Right? Then they get back, they’re in their routine, they’re safe and all that exhaustion, bang hits them.”

The post Owls and the Fowls appeared first on SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts.