Need to be creative? Classical music is the one to listen to.

Need to relax from a stressful situation? Classical music is a great reliever.

Need inspiration? Listen to classical music.

It is instructive to note that you don’t hear classical music blasting out of a low ride convertible during a summer evening. You may however hear it in the background of a millionaire’s garden party. I don’t know the reason, but I know it works to affect the mind beneficially.

I’ve listened to all types of music, rock, rap, etcetera.  Each has an effect on the thoughts of the mind. Of them all I’ve found classical to be the most beneficial. For example, drinking enough water and sleeping with classical music playing I have discovered can make five hours of sleep feel more refreshing than eight hours of sleep.

Our biceps at the front of the upper arm tend to be much stronger than the triceps at the rear, probably because we use them to lift against gravity. Yet two thirds of the upper arm size is attributed to the triceps.

Strong triceps can be the difference between just “falling over” and “falling over and conducting improvised dentistry”. So to keep teeth in place if going on an unexpected ‘trip’ regular press-ups can help.

Again rather cheekily, if I wake up in the morning face down, I only have nine left to do after I get up.

Happy baby, happy parent, and happy family.

Observe how long it takes from initially regaining conciousness to being fully awake, and adjust the alarm clock sound accordingly.

So if it takes five minutes to awake play a five minute audio track.

For example, in line with Life Hack #12 the audio track could be a farm yard. The track gradually increasing in volume, and possibly culminating with a cockerel crowing. A crowing cockerel is a natural noise acting as a fail-safe if there is a waking deadline.  I find it is less stress producing than using artificial electronic sounds.

Classical music has also been found to be useful in this regard.

Whatever track is chosen it creates a smoother transition into conciousness, and thus a better start to the day than would otherwise be the case.

We awake in a state of alarm.

Not really an ideal start to any day – being shocked into conciousness. I’d also hazard a guess that we naturally rebel against this by hitting “snooze”, rolling over, and trying to recover the calmer state we have just been experiencing.

Is there’s a better way of waking up at a set time and not in a state of alarm? I think so.

Instead of using an alarming artificial sound, try using an audio track of birds singing (basically any natural background sounds) that slowly increase in volume over time. The soothing sounds eases you from a rested state into a refreshed one, ready to take on the day. Much more helpful than receiving an alarming shot of adrenaline into the bloodstream before the mental faculties are fully functioning, as is normally the case.

This can be combined with other techniques such as leaving the curtains open, so the natural morning light can assist also.

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

“What does every man wish he had more of, but never knows when he has it?” says the Riddle.

“Sleep” replies the Answer.

I’ve come to think that battles of  “Morning commute rush” and “Groggy afternoon malaise” are won the night before, particularly in the time I go to sleep. The earlier the bedtime, the less likely the following morning would seem like a rat race, or the afternoon turn into a sleep-deprived stupor.

It is said the sleep hours before midnight are worth double those after, and I’ve found this has some truth to it.

However, there is a counter force that resists earlier bedtimes. Long work hours means there’s no evening to be had. So watching a late movie tempts to improve the work-life balance. Thinking laterally though, the long work hours may be shortened if adequate sleep is obtained the night before – as the better productivity results.

So the more sleep, the more likely this vicious cycle will get a puncture.