Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-09

Washington, D. c., Nov. 6.-When
you lose your. pep on a damp gloomy
day, or when you find 1t hard to con-
jcentrate on a difficult problem right
after lunch, don't get v and
think that you are on h verge OF a
breakdown. You are merely a living
example Of the natural rhythms Of
efficiency.
Almost everyone has q preferred
time for brain work and for exercise.
You hear "A man say, II wait until
late at night to do my reading be-
cause 1t is quiet. and l can concen-
|trate. My, mind seems to work bet
ter then than at any other, time"
Another person holds an equally de-
cided opinion that early in the morn.
ing is the Abestst4ms Tor. brain work.
|Opinions of this sort have been held
flor centuries tt t+fi W.,
But for the past few decades sci
ence has been making tests Of the ac-
tual abilities of human beings in
! varying circumstances. The effects
on efficiency, Of the weather, the time
Of day, and" the aso of the year
have; been tested by numerous investi-
gators. The results have shown that
these factors do have ,an influence on
efficiency, and that certain rhythms
prevail. II a large group Of people
Is tested throughout n day almost
all are found to reach the peak, of
mental. ability at about the same
hour, and If the tests are repeated
over a long period of time the tend
low the same course each day is still
more apparent. u
The Interesting fact shown by such
| tna< -. u <Hnf 1oVN no ~ ftNy01U Pnuy rn0-
pie are at their best when they think
they are. College students asked by
Professor Arthur Gates to tell at
what hoursthey could study best
showed a decided preference for 8
and 8 o'clock. Comparatively few
chose 10 Or IL in the morning, at
which time,,s according to scientific
tests, the peak Of mental efficiency
Ia attained. And very few, DR.. Gates
says, appreciated the efficiency Of the
afternoon hours noticeably 8 o'clock.
His conclusion is that "one's sub
jective feelings with regard to the
time Of greatest efficiency are not re-
liable indications OF real efficiency.
The organism may be able to pro-
duce the greatest\ amount and the
best quality Of work at a time when
feelings of fatigue and kindred fac
xG0A W NOAASyS SA~S wa VIA
lciency 10 low.
Brain Power Best After Noon.
According to DR.. Archibald Peaks.
who made a. study Of this subject,
brain power rises to- a high point ut
H.. 1t drops considerably around
noon and then rises to q maximum
around 2 pm. after which there ID
q gradual decrease until the close
OF the day
Physical ability rises Ito a similar
high point around IL and drops
lslightly from noon to 1 p. m. then
rises again to q maximum sometime
lbetween 81 and 6 o'clock.
DR.. Peake says that iii speed and
ACCURACY te$ts, accuracy IL better in
the morning and speed greater in the
afternoon, a result which seems to
show that speed il often gained at
1.-The expense OF; ACCURACY"
This refutes to q degree the popular
Idea: that when "a person has been
working q while fatigue pulls down
his efficiency. Real fatigue does un-
|d%oubtedly lessen efficiency. but It is
explained by some scientists that
many people give In too easily to
WEAKNESS. They allow themselves to
sink into q semi-conscious state IN
the afternoons simply because they
are firmly convinced that their eff
ficiency cannot be Z 9 greatsas in ths
morning, ENTHUSIASTICALLY perhaps
they say to themselves III always am
tired In the afternoon. It 10 natural
l6br q person tojlslowS down then" And
] bocausS they believe that conditions
are pulling aGainst them they give In,
People who have this complex maj
find themselves more alert II they