I sleep with a crocodile.

There's a running joke among married couples that woman steal the blankets. Ha ha, very funny. Ever slept with a toddler?

A toddler is 3 animals in one. 

If you lucky, you get the starfish. Each limb is spread as wide as possible, separating the parents, and making sure future siblings are not an option.

Then there's the donkey. Usually it awakens 20 minutes after you have just drifted off. A swift huge kick from 2 metres above the bed happens to land perfectly in your crotch.

And my personal favourite, the crocodile. As he's trying to fall asleep, he lies on his side. Then his back. Then his side. Then his front. Then your back. Then he's suddenly 90 degrees. It feel like he's trying to roll you up in blankets to smother you for saying no to that last cookie.

So when you survive sleeping next to the Animal Planet and wake up by yourself at 2am, it's especially annoying. Especially if it's the 4th time this week. So I did some research and discovered The Chinese Body Clock.

It describes how your body's energy targets different organs during the day, so there is a time when it is strongest, and when the opposite organ on the clock is weakest. 

For instance, 9-11 am is your spleen time. During the Spleen time the assimilation of nutrients into the body (via digestion) builds energy and blood. A healthy Spleen is crucial for optimal physical energy to carry you through the day. Interestingly, this is when most folks eagerly sip away at their coffee to fuel their energy. But this tells us that maybe their natural energy source is weak or fatigued.

The opposite side of the clock 9-11pm would be when your spleen is at its lowest, so you should be tired and going to bed. If you’re at the gym, you’re crazy. If your Spleen is weak already, then that cycle of repetitive thoughts may be more apparent now. And you need more l-theanine to counteract them.

So that 2am wake up? That's the Liver working hard. Darn, shouldn't have had that second martini.

Fortunately, the Better Sleep Hot Chocolate  has taurine which helps cleanse the liver, so it's not such a common occurrence.

So the Chinese have known for centuries when is the best time of day eat, work and socialize. And here we are with happy hour at 4pm? We should be having long social lunches together. If you want to read more on the body clock, try this site.

And if you are just trying to be on peak performance at all hours of the day? Try The Daily Shake.

The Daily Shake. The hate-taking-capsules why-can't-it-all-be-in-one just-send-it-every-month supplement shake. Available only at greatshakes.co.za

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