I recently came across two articles regarding improving ones’ health. Redbook published “The Best Time of the Day” by Aviva Patz and Shine published “5 Habits to Break Before It’s Too Late” by JJ Virgin.

A lot of both papers got my attention because they overlap much of the same information. Both papers began with getting enough sleep, especially when you’re young. I can remember saying in my 20’s, I’ll sleep when vacation is over. Of course I’d say this on vacation. That said get enough sleep and get an extra 20 minutes before you get up.

Get bedtime started three to four hours before you put your head on a pillow. Begin by brushing your teeth. Let your body cool down (so don’t exercise inside the bedtime window). Power down by reading a light novel, playing with your pet or loved one, taking a bath but avoid watching or doing anything that will stimulate you. If you have to have noise (TV) watch the same thing over and over. I can’t tell you the number of times my wife would watch “Groundhog Day” staring Bill Murray. Talk about repetitive, we could start the movie anyplace and it would be the same. Your body needs between 7-9 hours to repair all the metabolic processes it goes through everyday. Try to be sure it’s uninterrupted. Taking a mid afternoon nap is also a great way to recharge. Ten minutes of napping can be enough to have you feeling alert and rested.

Avoid eating before bed as a way to power down. First your body won’t burn existing food stores (fat), start digestion (stealing from repair process) and raises stress hormones! Not a good way to get some deep sleep.

Eat breakfast; break that fast from the night before (the one that began at the end of dinner). Patz says sometime within the first 15-30 minutes after you awake and never after 8am. Skipping breakfast sends your body into starvation mode. Eat a balanced meal that includes fats, protein and carbs. Without it your body will target itself and it won’t be fat stores, your body will start with muscle for its energy. Not ideal for those who want to stay healthy.

I know many will disagree with this but weigh yourself every morning. A study from Brown University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill showed that 61 percent of people who did so maintained their weight within five pounds over time (compared with 32 percent who weighed in less often), mainly because it helped them catch weight gain early. So no matter what people say knowing is better than guessing.

Skip lunch, yes skip it in favor of two meals about 300 calories each. Like many I need food between 10:30 and 11am, but a cheese stick just won’t be enough. So jump to a 300 Kcal meal followed by another a few hours later. This will get you through those hunger pangs you get at the grocery store (calling for comfort chips) and help you avoid eating on the drive home.

Don’t skip the workout. This is one of the Patz issues that got my attention. Move, and the best time to do that is 5 to 6pm. What, it’s because our body is warmest at that time of day. Ok, I’ll buy that Patz goes on to say that our lungs use oxygen more efficient at that time. But enough about that JJ says get the workout done. So fit that workout in the best you can (morning, afternoon or evening). Like that shoe company says, just do it!