The Checkup: Why You Should Look at Your Phone Right When You Wake Up

• You know how everyone says you shouldn’t look at your phone or computer before bedtime because doing so will keep you awake? New research found that it’s actually a good idea to have some screen time first thing in the morning. Why? Well, for the same reason you’re not supposed to do so at night: the blue light it gives off pumps your body full of the stress hormone, cortisol. Usually that’s a bad thing, if you remember back to 10th grade biology, but in this case it actually works to your advantage by resetting your circadian rhythm. Although it seems counterintuitive, this AM cortisol flush actually reduces stress levels by syncing your body to the day. The trick, Men’s Health reports, is getting your blue-light fix within the first 45 minutes of waking up: “A little morning reading on your iPad mini won’t do the trick because it doesn’t put out enough light, says [study author Mariana] Figueiro. Read the paper on your tablet next to a window for the best results.”

• Speaking of circadian rhythms, the New York Times reports that afternoon workouts might be best for keeping your body clock ticking correctly. Read why here.

• What keeps a lot of African American women from regular workouts? Their hair, according to results of a new study. Reuters reports that two out of five black women say they avoid exercise due to concerns about their hair-dos.