Things really do seem better in the morning, study suggests

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Things, generally, "do seem better in the morning" - that is according to scientists who suggest the earlier hours of the day are when most feel at their best.

Research using the University College London (UCL) COVID-19 Social Study found people also widely feel happier in the summertime than they do during the winter months.

Using survey data from 49,218 adults between March 2020 and March 2022, the researchers found people generally woke up "feeling best" but were "feeling worst" by midnight.

Dr Feifei Bu, from UCL's department of behavioural science and health, said: "Our findings suggest that on average, people's mental health and wellbeing are better in the morning and worst at midnight."

And writing in the journal BMJ Mental Health, the team added: "Generally, things do seem better in the morning."

In the study, people were asked questions like: "In the past week, how happy did you feel?", "How satisfied have you been with your life?", and "To what extent have you felt the things you are doing in your life are worthwhile?"

Taking into account factors such as age, health conditions and whether people worked, the results showed that happiness, life satisfaction, and worthwhile ratings were all higher on Mondays and Fridays than on Sundays.

Happiness was also higher on Tuesdays, but there was no evidence that loneliness differed across days of the week.

The researchers also suggested the changes in mental health and wellbeing across the day could be explained by physiological changes associated with the body clock.

"For example, cortisol [a hormone that regulates mood, motivation and fear] peaks shortly after waking and reaches its lowest levels around bedtime," they noted.

However, the experts noted differences in mood between weekdays and weekends could be driven by things like the changes in daily tasks.

Dr Bu added: "This pattern could reflect when people choose to respond to the survey, rather than a direct effect of time of day.

"For example, those already feeling better in the morning might be more likely to engage with the survey at that time."

She also said the findings need "to be replicated in other studies that fully account for this potential bias", but suggested that if backed by other research, "this could have important practical implications".

"Mental health support services might consider adjusting resources to match fluctuating needs across the day - for instance, prioritising late-night availability," Dr Bu added.

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