The Perfect Time of Day to Do Everything

Want to make your days happier, healthier, and more lucrative? Just follow this schedule.

7 a.m. Make a Baby!

If you want kids, your best bet is trying when you wake up—some studies say men’s sperm counts are higher in the early morning.

8:30 a.m. Decide Something

Researchers have found that we make our best decisions right after we wake up. Later, we suffer from “decision fatigue” and make the quicker or easier decision.

9:30 a.m. Update Your Blog

Many people check their favorite sites before 10 a.m. If you want to maximize your site’s traffic, be sure to post shortly after breakfast.

10 a.m. Take an Aspirin

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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.

11 a.m. Send an Email

Analysis of more than 200 million emails found that people are most likely to read their mail shortly before their lunch break. Send one at 11 a.m. to be at the top of the pile.

1 p.m. Watch a Funny YouTube Video

Researchers from Northwestern and Harvard, who studied 300 million tweets over three years, concluded that the national mood is at its lowest at 1 p.m. Why not chase away those post-lunch blues with a video of a sneezing panda?

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 10-minute power nap is the most effective way of combating the mid-afternoon slump.

4:30 p.m. Clean the House

It’s best to clean when your hand-eye coordination is highest, around 4 to 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

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According to eBay experts, the best time to end an auction is 9 p.m. EST. If you’re a bargain hunter, look for auctions that end around 4 a.m.

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. Letting your mind wander when you’re worn out might lead to a creative solution to a problem that seemed insurmountable at noon.

All images courtesy of Thinkstock unless otherwise stated. 

This story originally appeared in mental_floss magazine. Subscribe to our print edition here or our iPad edition here.