Mental Health May Be Better in the Morning, New Study Finds
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross B...
Have you found your mental health is better in the morning than in the late evening?
A new study found a small but consistent pattern: people report more happiness and less depression and anxiety in the morning compared to midnight. Not surprisingly, the study also found people have higher mental health and well-being in the summer compared to the winter.
Here is a look at the study and what researchers found about when people experienced better mental health:
Why mental health may be better in the morning
The University College London study examined data collected from more than 49,200 people in a two-year period from March 2020 to March 2022 in England. Participants reported on their own mental health and well-being throughout the study. They answer questions about depression, anxiety, loneliness, happiness and life satisfaction.
People reported feeling the best when they wake up and feeling the worst around midnight. Depression and anxiety symptoms could be up to 10% lower early in the day compared to midnight. Self-reported well-being could be 15% higher in the morning than in the late evening.
One reason people may feel better right after waking up is cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that plays an important role in managing mood and energy levels. While you might associate it with increased anxiety and inflammation, cortisol has key functions including regulating blood pressure and managing your sleep and wake cycle.
When you stay in fight or flight mode for an extended period and cortisol levels stay high, it can lead to anxiety, depression, digestive problems, difficult sleeping, weight gain and heart disease, according to WebMD.
Mental health and well-being change through the year and week
Through the study, respondents reported their mental health and well-being are highest in the summer, while depression, anxiety and loneliness are lowest in the winter. As many as 20% of Americans have the winter blues and about 6% have seasonal affective disorder, which causes depression-like symptoms.
Reports of mood and life satisfaction were inconsistent throughout the week, but people generally reported their feelings of well-being were lowest in the middle of the week. Happiness and life satisfaction are highest on weekend mornings. Researchers attributed this to people having the time to focus on spending time with loved ones and on activities they enjoy.
Feelings of loneliness were consistent throughout the day, week and year.
The researchers describe the relationship between time of day and mental health as an association, and they encourage further research into the subject.
How to improve your mental health
If you’re feeling bad in the evening or in winter months, practicing mindfulness could help. Try to avoid making big decisions during times when your mental health is worse. We all have bad days or evenings, but if you struggle with your mental health for two weeks or more, talk to your primary care provider. Lifestyle changes and therapy can help with anxiety, depression and loneliness.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s commitment to behavioral health aims to help members improve their long-term health and lead to lower health care costs. Challenges with mental health is connected to worse physical health outcomes. By providing mental health care, members have the resources they need to live a healthier life and save money on their health care.
Image: Getty Images
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