**Most people experience a peak around noon, then a trough until ~5, then recover** Not all times of the day are created equal. Energy, [[focus]], physical readiness, and mental acuity ebb and flow through the day, following predictable patterns. For the majority of the population, we begin the day strong, then have a slump around 6-8 hours after we wake up, then end the day strong. ![[assets/when.png]] # Effects: - [[Decision Fatigue]] - people will start relying on biases and prejudices more - Attention wanes - Mistakes are made # Scary example There are significant effects of the mid-afternoon slump in hospitals everywhere. You're 3x more likely to be killed by your anestesia. Staff are 10% less likely to have washed their hands, causing infection rates to rise. Colonoscopies find fewer cancerous growths. ## Timing Tips - Schedule your important work early in the day, or later in the evening. ([[Eat the Frog]]) - Schedule doctor's appointments, interviews, and collaborative meetings early, too. - Take breaks. **** ## Source - [[When (book)]] ## Related - [[Chronotype & the 3 Birds]] - [[Breaks (index)]] - [[Eat the Frog]] - [[Decision Fatigue]]