Perfect Timing: How to Make the Most of the Day
Updated: Mar. 16, 2022From when to send e-mail, sell something on ebay, or make a baby, find out how to best use your 24 hours each day.
10 a.m.: Take an Aspirin
Mornings, specifically Monday mornings, are the most common time for both heart attacks and migraines. A preemptive aspirin could ward off pain or even save your life.
2 p.m.: Take a Power Nap
The post-lunch slump isn’t just a symptom of a full belly; at around 2 p.m., your body temperature starts to drop the same way it does at night. Australian researchers found that a ten-minute power nap is the most effective way to combat the mid-afternoon blahs.
4 p.m.: Tweet Something Witty
If you come up with a 140-character zinger first thing in the morning, save it. A study conducted by social-media scientist Dan Zarrella found that Twitter users are most likely to retweet others’ pithy comments between 3 p.m. and midnight, peaking between 4 and 5 p.m.
5 p.m.: Get Some Exercise
Your body temperature is highest from 5 to 6 p.m. The heat increases your stamina and strength while decreasing your reaction time, so the added warmth makes your workouts more effective.
9 p.m.: Sell Something on eBay
According to eBay users, the best time to end an auction is 9 p.m. EST because people tend to surf the Web when they get home from work at night.
10 p.m.: Solve the World’s Problems
Difficult problems require creative thinking, and studies show that people do their most abstract thinking when they are tired. If you’re not a night owl, letting your mind wander when you’re worn-out might lead to a creative solution to a problem that seemed insurmountable at noon.
