Body Clock
7am Try for a baby. Hormone levels are highest and sperm counts peak. Blood pressure also rises, making it easier for you to get out of bed and walk around.
9am Schedule a surgical procedure. Medical staff are likely to be less fatigued.
10am Study for or sit an exam. You’re most alert from 10-11am; the brain is most rested. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Their levels can vary throughout the day but high-morning readings are more likely to indicate a health problem.
Noon Take medication. Joint pain, such as osteoarthritis, peaks in the afternoon and evening. Take medication about lunchtime to give it time to work. Negotiate a tricky deal. According to Kennedy, this is the best time for an argument because verbal reasoning skills peak about noon.
1-2pm Visit the dentist. Research shows that local anaesthetics last three times longer if given between 1pm and 3pm, and our pain threshold is at its highest.
2-3pm Take a nap. Your metabolism slows between 2pm and 3pm and this is when our bodies are programmed for a short sleep. ”Human beings are designed to have two sleeps: one nocturnal sleep and one short 20-40-minute nap in the middle of the day,” Kennedy says.
4-6pm Exercise. More Olympic records have been broken in the late afternoon than at other times. Lung capacity is at its maximum and core temperature is raised, speeding nerve impulses and improving co-ordination. Research shows that strength and endurance climb about 5 per cent between 4pm and 8pm, compared with morning hours, so you can push yourself harder. Your muscles are warmer, too, which will help you avoid injury. ”There is more risk of heart attack early in the morning, so older people, especially, should exercise towards the end of the day,” Kennedy says.
5-7pm Chow down on carbohydrates. Refuel energy stores up to two hours after exercising and your muscles will thank you. Your muscles can best take up energy consumed and your body is less likely to store kilojoules as fat. This is also the ideal time to enjoy a glass of wine because your liver is more able to metabolise the alcohol.
10pm Enjoy some horizontal dancing! Libidos hit their peak in the late evening.
