Piggybacking on yesterday's blog post, Sleeper, I want to comment a bit more on circadian rhythm or our bodies' internal clock. Many of us think of ourselves as either "morning" or "night" people, performing mental and physical tasks more expertly during these timeframes.
Multiple studies show this premise to be true. According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, disruption of our circadian rhythm can contribute to diabetes, depression, obesity, and dementia.
And for many people, there really are optimal times for certain tasks and activities. Our cognitive abilities typically peak during late morning, but creativity is highest when we are fatigued during the evening.
Sleepiness peaks around 2 p.m., making that time ( as I posted yesterday in "Sleeper") ideal for a nap. It seems the Spaniards have it right!
Physically, we are at our best from 3 to 6 p.m., with muscular s strength highest between 2 and 6 p.m.- as much as 6% higher than during our daily low.
And our joints and muscles are as much as 20% more flexible during late evening than during the rest of the day.
By all means, exercise when you can. But, if you want to maximize your results, there really are "the best of times" to do so.
A Tale of Two Cities (1859) Charles Dickens
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