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Since the early work of Halberg(1960),theexistence of human "circadian rhythms" has been well-known tobiologists and psychologists. Circadian rhythms dictate that there are certaintimes ofthe day when we are at our best both physically and psychologically. Atits simplest, the majority of us feel more alive and creative in the mornings,while come the evenings we are fit only for collapsing with a good book or infront of the television. Other of usnote that in the morning we take a great deal of time to get going physicallyand mentally, but by the evening are full of energy and bright ideas, while avery few of us feel most alert and vigorous in the late afternoon .
Irrespective of our personal rhythms, most of us have a productiveperiod between 10a.m. andnoon, when the stomach, pancreas, spleen and heart all appear to be in theirmost active phases. Conversely, themajority of usexperience a low period in the hour or two after lunch (a timewhen people in some societies sensibly take a rest), as most of our energy isdevoted to the process of digestion. The simple rules here are: don'twaste too much prime time having a coffee break around 11a.m.when youshould be doing some of yourbest work, and don't make the after-lunchperiod even less productive byoverloading your digestion. A short coffee or tea break is ,in fact, best takenon arrival at the office ,when it helps us start the day in a positive mood,rather than mid-morning when it interrupts the flow of our activities. Lunch isbest taken early, when we are just beginning to feel hungry, and we are likelyto eat less than if we leave it until later. An early lunch also means that we can get back into our productivestride earlier in the afternoon.
Changes in one's attitude can also enhance personal time management.For example, the notion of pro-actionis eminently preferable to reaction. Topro-act means to anticipate events and be in a position to take appropriateaction as soon as the right moment arrives. To react, on the other hand, means to have little anticipation anddo something only when events force you to do so. Pro-actors tend to bethe people who are always one step ahead of other people, who always seem tobein the right place at the right time, and who are always better informed thananyone else. Many of us like an easy life, and so we tend to be reactors. This means that we aren't alert to thechallenges and opportunities coming our way, with the consequence thatchallenges bother us or opportunities pass us bybefore we're even properlyaware they're upon us. We can train ourselves in pro-action byregularly taking the time to sit down and appraise the likely immediate future,just as we sit down and review the immediate past. |
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