Science Says This Is the Happiest Time of Day—and It’s Not When You Think
You know what they say: The early bird gets the worm. Well, there might be a reason for his success after all: According to new research from University College London (UCL), the time of day, week and even year can and does massively impact mental health, meaning people are much happier at some times than others.Published in BMJ Mental Health, the UCL study analyzed data tracking nearly 50 thousand adults' mental health over the course of two years. Measuring depression, anxiety, happiness, life satisfaction, a sense of purpose (or what they call "eudemonic well-being") and loneliness through statistical models, they examined patterns across varying times of day, days of week and throughout different seasons. 🩺 SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week 💊The Happiest Time of Day, According to the StudyAs for what they found? Much like the aforementioned early bird, people generally reported feeling their best—meaning happiest, most satisfied with life and the least anxious—early in the morning.More specifically, the peak times of happiness and well-being fell between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. (so before most people go to work—we see you!).Related: This Common Condition Increases Your Chronic Illness Risk By 30%The Unhappiest Time of DayWhile feelings of sadness and anger were lowest in the morning, they gradually increased throughout the day—meaning that levels of happiness slowly fade as the day goes on. Unfortunate!People felt their absolute worst around midnight however, during which they reported feeling depressed, anxious and dissatisfied with their lives. That's also when participants' "worthwhile ratings" (or how much meaning or purpose they felt life had) sharply declined, meaning the later at night it is, the less fulfilled and hopeful you're likely to feel.Related: This Simple Change Can Boost Your Energy Levels All Day, According to DoctorsThe Happiest (and Unhappiest) Days of the WeekThe study also found that when it comes to weekdays, there's a bit of what you could call a "mid-week slump": Unhappy feelings like anxiety and depression peak on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That said, there are more mood swings on weekends, as happiness and life satisfaction varied more on Saturdays and Sundays than during the week.As for the happiest days of the week? Shockingly, it's not over the weekend (remember those mood swings?): People felt their best on Mondays and Fridays. TGIF indeed.Related: Want Better Focus? Do This to Your Phone Right NowThe Happiest (and Unhappiest) Times of YearThis likely won't come as much of a surprise, but the "winter blues"—and/or seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—are real: People reportedly felt their worst in the winter but felt their happiest and best in the summer (though springtime came in strong second place).Related: 6 Small Changes That Can Lead to a Happier LifeWhat Does This Mean for Me?While some of these findings might feel obvious, knowing which times, days and months you're most likely to feel sad or anxious can help you plan accordingly.For example: Combat the mid-week blues by scheduling a spa day or time for self-care, or invest in a SAD lamp to hold you over until spring.It can help you make more responsible choices too, After all, now we know that science says it's always best to "sleep on it."Up Next:Related: Eating This Could Decrease Your Depression Risk By 22%Sources"Will things feel better in the morning? A time-of-day analysis of mental health and wellbeing from nearly 1 million observations." BMJ Mental Health.
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