Whatever your motivation, there are benefits and drawbacks to working alternative hours. Here are a few to consider before you decide to become a regular early bird or night owl.

Benefits can include:

• Fewer interruptions.
  You can generally concentrate better during early hours or late in the day when you’re less likely to be interrupted with phone calls or e-mails and pinged with instant messaging.
• Getting ahead of the game.
  Arriving early or staying late can give you a jump start on your work, enabling you to obtain answers to questions or supporting materials to complete projects. By e-mailing first thing in the morning (or sending it the night before), you can be sure you’ll put in your request before everyone else.
• Quality time with the boss.
  Before or after the typical 9-to-5 workday may be a good time to catch up with your boss on projects or an opportunity to build your relationship.

And don’t forget to consider the downside to being the office early bird or night owl:

• Burnout.
  If you consistently arrive early or stay late at work, you are more susceptible to job burnout, since you’re likely working more than 40 hours a week.
• Productivity factors.
  While it is often easier to be more productive before or after normal working hours, beware of tendencies to “run out of fuel” temporarily sometime during your longer work day.
• Peer pressure.
  Unfortunately, not everyone will view your staying late or arriving early as a sign of dedication or hard work. Peers may feel that your work ethic makes them “look bad” or puts pressure on them to follow your work patterns.

The best advice may be to consider arriving early or staying late only in moderation. By limiting your long work days to only once or twice a week, for example, you can enjoy the benefits without the downsides. And if, despite your best efforts, you continue to put in long hours on a regular basis, it may be time for a refresher course in time management!