09/08/2022

Mathematician claims to have found the "formula for good humor"

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For those who suffer from insomnia, the habit of mentally calculating how many hours of sleep are left may be common. But for British researcher Anne-Marie Imafidon, mathematics plays an even greater role in sleep planning. The mathematician claims to have found the perfect formula for a good mood, which includes waking up early and a series of tips for starting the day well.

The formula was developed based on research into morning habits and routines, which surveyed 2,000 people in the United Kingdom. The study determined that the best time to wake up is 6:44 am, followed by a few minutes to rest and stretch until 7:12 am, the ideal time to get out of bed. The second step is to do 21 minutes of exercise, then spend 10 minutes in the shower and another 18 minutes having breakfast.

According to Anne-Marie, although the suggested schedules are ideal, it's possible to adjust them to different daily routines. However, one thing is non-negotiable: to maintain a good mood, at least eight hours of sleep is necessary.

“Not everyone has the same routine, but a combination of different elements should be the key to getting out of bed on the right side. It’s interesting to see how different factors in our morning routine can prepare us for the rest of the day,” said the mathematician.

The researcher developed a formula that calculates how much time people should spend on tasks such as showering, eating, exercising, and performing other activities based on how much time they sleep and remain in bed.

The first part of the formula (z) includes the total minutes spent showering (b) and exercising (e), plus twice the minutes spent eating in the morning (2c). The result is then divided by the difference between eight hours (recommended sleep time) and the actual time spent sleeping (d), then multiplied by the number of hours further from 7:12 that the person gets out of bed (y).

Finally, minutes spent on “routine preparation” activities, such as reading or meditation (r), are added. The researcher states that the result should be greater than 37 to “have a good day”.

If we put it in formula form, we have z = (((b + e + 2c) / (8h – d)) x (y-7h12)) + r

If z > 37, then the person will have a good day.

For example, let's say you get 7 hours and 15 minutes of sleep, get out of bed at 7:50 am, take a 15-minute shower, exercise for 20 minutes, and spend 18 minutes having breakfast. In addition, you invest 35 minutes preparing for the day with reading.

Your formula would look like this: z = (((15 + 20 + 2×18) / (8h – 7h15)) x (7h50-7h12)) + 35; then z = 35.0415, meaning you probably won't have a good day.

Source: O Globo Newspaper