1:00pm - See yer dentist

What’s the best way to keep your next dental visit from becoming your personal Little Shop of Horrors? Schedule it for the arvo. “If you’re prone to worrying about your appointment and are an anxious person, it’s best to come in after lunch. When you’ve had a meal, you’re less likely to faint or feel wobbly,” says John Matthews, president of the Australian Dental Association.

2:30pm - Make friends with your hairdresser

Weekday afternoons are slow for most hair salons. Sneak away from the office for an hour and you’ll get faster, more attentive service. Bonus: since your mane’s been weathering the workday, the stylist can accurately evaluate how limp, frizzy, poufy or cowlicky it is in its natural state. The downside: you have to go straight back to work, which means no hiding (or some frantic bobby pin work) if the haircut’s a complete disaster.

4:00pm - Book a training session

A 2005 review published in Chronobiology International revealed people are stronger and less injury-prone between 4pm and early evening. It’s also when you’ll get better access to machines – and trainers. Pop in during the late afternoon and, “you have the best shot at snagging a popular trainer who’d be booked solid during prime hours,” says Stephanie Sandor, a personal trainer in Sydney. Before work, after work and lunchtime are when the throngs hit the treadmills, so schedule a late lunch break or make up the time before hours.