There’s a Reason Things Always Seem to Feel Better in the Morning, New Study Says

You’ve likely heard the age-old phrase a thousand times: “Just go to bed—you’ll feel better in the morning.” Well, according to a recent analysis published in the BMJ Mental Health journal, there’s some science behind this old adage, and a clear relationship between time of day and how we feel. “Generally, things do seem better in the morning,” the study says.

This study looked at multiple measures of happiness or well-being, including both hedonic and eudemonic well-being. Hedonic well-being refers to the pleasant feelings we may experience throughout the day: waking up feeling well-rested, eating a nutritious breakfast, or engaging in physical activity. Eudemonic well-being, however, refers to actions conducive to long-term fulfillment, as opposed to maximizing instant gratification, such as going to therapy, reflecting on our thoughts and actions, or expressing gratitude. Both of these markers of well-being are essential to living a happy, fulfilling life.

The Link Between Our Emotions and Time of Day

To understand the connection between time of day and how we feel, the study analyzed data from over 49,000 adults at University College London from March 2020 to March 2022 to assess mental health, well-being, and feelings of loneliness. Participants received alerts at various times throughout the day and were asked to assess their feelings. The study found “a clear time-of-day pattern in self-reported mental health and well-being, with people generally waking up feeling best and feeling worst around midnight.” The study also looked at seasonal changes in well-being. “Longer term, there is evidence of weekly and seasonal changes in mood. For example, at weekends, people typically report higher positive affect and circadian mood patterns are different compared with weekdays.”

Although better mental health is often associated with summer due to more exposure to sunlight and warm weather, mornings—specifically weekend mornings—are associated with higher levels of clarity and happiness. And while this finding may not offer the secret to lifelong fulfillment, it’s comforting to know that simply going to bed may be the fix you need for a bad mood.