Between 9pm and 6am - while the rest of us are firmly tucked up in bed - up to a third of Brits are working out, latest figures show.
It seems that more people are embracing the 'early to bed, early to rise' mantra to cram even more into their day, usually before others have even woken up.
But with everything seemingly on tap 24-7 these days, what's the best time of day for you to tackle that to-do list and keep yourself firing on all cylinders?
FEMAIL finds out below;
7am-8am - Best time for sex
The human body produces a huge surge in sex hormone and a rush of adrenaline first thing to get you 'up and at 'em', so why not use it to stay between the sheets instead?
Continue reading after the cut....
'In men, testosterone levels peak around 7am, hence their "morning glory", while you'll both be fully rested, with heightened senses,' explains sex therapist Suzie Hayman.
'And because you're also still waking up, you tend to be more tactile and responsive.'
In fact, according to one study from Rutger's University in the US, the average amount of time spent on foreplay almost doubles first thing in the morning.
And, unsurprisingly, this is also the time couples are most likely to conceive and orgasm, according to research from the University of Modena in Italy.
'It's a natural response from your body to encourage procreation,' Hayman explains.
8am-9am - Best time to tackle your hardest task
As well probably being the only time you have to yourself, early morning is also the best window for your body to cope with the most daunting job on your list.
'It's when levels of the stress hormone cortisol are highest,' explains Professor Simon Folkard, director of the Body Rhythms Centre at the University of Wales.
'And this change increases your blood-sugar level, giving you the energy and momentum to manage difficult situations effectively,' he adds.
While too much cortisol can make you feel overwhelmed, it's also what contributes to the 'fight-or-flight' ability to finish that project that's hanging over your head.
Bonus: The morning is also the time when you're least likely to activate ulcers, so quit worrying and just do it.
10am-11am - Best time to go shopping
As any woman knows (to her dismay) going shopping when you're tired or hungry is a disaster.
'The synapses in your brain are firing properly three hours after waking, which combined with high energy levels and a full stomach means you're perfectly primed for decision making,' says Glasgow University psychologist Stephany Biello.
'However advanced humans are, we can't rationally buy food for the future when we're hungry.'
Which explains that trolley full of crisps and chocolate.
Interestingly, according to the British Retail Consortium, purchases made after 4pm - when you're at your most tired and concentration levels have reached daily lows - tend to be those most often returned to the shop.
So save yourself that return trip and head off after breakfast.
11am-12pm - Best time to ask for a raise
Make your case to your boss now because that's when most people's energy level is at its highest, you are likely to feel the greatest focus.
'You're also most awake so you'll be able to think on your feet when you don't get the answer you were expecting, and your boss will have got through his urgent early morning tasks. The worst time? Late in the day.
'When energy drops, it leaves people more vulnerable to anxiety, tension, and nervousness,' says Robert Thayer, author of Calm Energy (£9.99 from amazon.co.uk).
You may need to adjust your timing, however, if your boss is a night-owl. If he/she needs four cups of coffee every morning to get moving, it's wiser to approach him/her in the early afternoon when they've warmed up properly.
1pm-2pm - Best time for lunch
'The body's digestive processes are working at full power now,' explains Cath Collins, chief dietician at St George's Hospital in London.
'You'll be able to digest food properly and won't be over-eating as your blood sugar should still be sufficiently elevated.'
But keep to the rule of eating little and often, as the average three meals a day means relying on limited types of foods.
Studies have shown that grazers have higher levels of Vitamin C. For optimum health, you should also be aiming for 16 different food types over two to three days.
'Select a high-protein lunch to increase alertness and help combat the energy dip caused by too much carbohydrate,' Collins advisess.
Try a baked jacket potato piled with tuna, followed with a handful of zinc-packed Brazil nuts and almonds to aid digestion and boost your metabolism.
2pm-3pm Best time to put the kettle on
The average Brit loses his or her va-va-voom at 2.16pm, according to a survey of 2,000 adults by Typhoo.
On average, the respondents had least enthusiasm for doing tasks of any kind at this point in the day - exactly the sort of justification you need for a caffeine kick.
But make sure you limit caffeinated tea or coffee to four cups a day (fewer if you are pregnant).
'Where possible, drink tea rather than coffee, as tea contains flavanoids that can absorb harmful chemicals in the blood, giving protection against heart attack and cancer,' explains Collins.
This should be your last cup of tea of the day, though. Drink it any later and the caffeine won't have time to disperse through the system before you go to bed, causing insomnia.
And skip the cola - while sugary drinks boost energy in the short-term, scientists at the Sleep Research Centre in Loughborough found that, an hour later, testers had slower reactions and lapses in concentration.
If a cuppa doesn't work, have a wash - alternating your shower temperature between hot and cold speeds up your metabolism and boosts circulation, eliminating sluggishness.
Tests at the Thrombosis Research Institute in London found that regular cold baths and showers increase the oxygen flow to the body, rejuvenating tissues and making you more alert.
3pm-4pm - The best time to get a root canal
Local anesthetic lasts three times longer when administered in mid-afternoon than when given from 7-9am or 5-7pm, according to the British Dental Association.
'If you need a procedure that's prolonged, try to get it done in the early afternoon so you're best protected from the pain of the procedure by the anesthetic,' suggests Jacinta Yeo from the BDA.
For a simple filling, however, a midmorning appointment might be better, especially if you have plans for that evening: You'll get a decent dose of painkillers but your lips won't stay numb as long - avoiding a crooked smile or drool on your chin at dinner.
Nobody likes asking to for a bib with their meal.
5pm-6pm - Best time for exercise
Research at California's San Jose University shows that reaction time and hand-eye co-ordination are best now.
'Studies have shown that body temperature and other physical parameters reach a peak in the late afternoon, meaning warmer, more flexible muscles, greater strength and stamina and faster reaction times,' says Justin Way, Head Personal Trainer at Pure Gym.
It's also when the stress hormone cortisol, which can damage the immune system, is at its lowest, having fallen gradually from its high first thing in the morning.
So while those dawn gym bunnies might look healthy, they're actually putting themselves at greater risk of infections.
And statistics also show that over 80 per cent of Olympic records are broken in the late afternoon - but don't expect miracles from your new evening gym habit!
'Exercise is the perfect stress-release after a hard day's work, so if you're working shifts or just late, a spin class could really help you unwind before heading home.'
6pm-8pm - Best time to have a drink
This is the best time to enjoy a few drinks without getting too drunk. If you want to sink a glass or two - but don't fancy ending up on the floor - then 7-8pm is the best time to indulge.
Many body functions slow down in the evening, which means that alcohol moves more slowly into your bloodstream than at any other time of the day.
Obviously this doesn't mean that you can drink as much as you want without feeling any after-effects, but you'd get tipsy much quicker with a lunchtime tipple.
'Lunchtime's the worst time possible to consume any alcohol, unless you can put your feet up for a quick nap afterwards,' explains Collins.
'Adrenaline levels are low, and the alcohol attacks the digestive process, as enzymes move to tackle the alcohol and process it through the body.'
10pm-11pm - Best time to go to bed
Levels of the stress hormone cortisol are rock-bottom, while your body produces a surge of sleep-inducing melatonin, which peaks around midnight.
'Your heart rate falls along with your body temperature and stress hormones, so your whole body's primed for sleep,' explains Professor Jim Horne from Loughborough University's Sleep Research Centre.
To aid a restful, refreshing sleep, don't eat, read or watch TV in bed and make your bedroom as dark as possible.
'This will maximise the production of melatonin, which is released by the pineal gland during the hours of darkness and can quench cancer-causing free radicals,' he says.
If you do feel peckish, have a turkey sandwich washed down with a warm glass of milk - both contain the amino acid tryptophan, which your body converts into the hormone serotonin, proven to speed your journey to the land of nod.
11pm - The best time to beat cystitis
Cranberry juice helps stop urinary-tract infections, thanks to compounds that keep bacteria from sticking to bladder walls.
Have a glass as a nightcap, and you could make the most of a medicinal dose. 'The cranberry compounds sit in the bladder overnight, so they may work longer fighting bacteria that cause UTIs,' says urologist Amy Howell.
A glass after sex also may give you some protection, since intercourse increases the risk of UTIs by pushing bacteria farther up the urethra.
- FEMAIL (mailonline)
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