When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel Pink. This was a very enjoyable read. So enjoyable that I restarted chapter one immediately after finishing the book. And then again, a third read. Maybe this is no surprise. I read in 2007 his book A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future and it was also very enjoyable.
In this book Pink provides a lot of scientific data (big data) that provides insights to our lives. This is so broadly appealing that everyone should read this book. Basically Pink shares that we all have a unique hidden patterns. This really impacts our work performance, studies, exercise and even our mood throughout the day.
Pink breaks our day into three periods: Peak, Trough, and Recovery. A morning Peak is when we apply thinking tasks. A Trough sees a decline in the mid-afternoon. This is best for simple tasks. Finally Recovery reenergizes us in the early evening to be creative.
At the same time Pink acknowledges our personality fits into one of three buckets. These circadian rhythms are Lark (morning person), an Owl (evening person), or a middle Third Bird. These rhythms will change over time. While in college I was definitely an owl, programming into the wee hours of the morning. Owls have their rhythms in reverse: recovery, trough and peak.
As no surprise our moods swing up and down during those periods and impact our performance. Pink acknowledges that we should focus on mundane tasks like email in the correct rhythm and mood. Recovery is best to tackle brainstorming and creative work. However Pink shares that this period also finds us less vigilant.
Numerous examples of how three periods across our day along with our rhythm make a direct impact on our lives and society. Pink analyzed 26,000 earnings calls on wall street by CEOs and CFOs. The big data analytics revealed afternoons were tense versus morning calls. And this did result in stock pricing temporarily.
Why have so many surgeries in the early morning? Pink shares the data behind the long held belief that doctors make mistakes, just like everybody else. Pink’s The Hospital of Doom section shows these mistakes are amplified when a surgeon uses a scalpel. During the afternoons hand washing drops (prior to covid-19) and doctors issue more prescriptions. When you a medical procedure, make sure you book an early morning appointment.
Still not convinced to read this book? Are you a coffee lover by chance? Then consider his segment called Nappuccino: A Scientific 5-Step Guide to the Perfect Nap. May turn out to be the best little secret of the book.
Talks at Google: Daniel H. Pink When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing
RSA Conference: The Science of Timing with Dan Pink