Main Things That Affect Our Mood in the Morning
Mornings bring a mix of feelings. Some days we feel ready to go. Other days, getting out of bed is hard. Why do our moods change so much in the morning? Science can explain how things inside and outside our bodies affect how we feel when we wake up.
Sleep. Ever wake up and your brain feels foggy? This is called sleep inertia. It's when you feel drowsy after waking up. It's worse if you wake up during deep sleep. One study showed people did 41% worse on tasks after waking from deep sleep.
Waking up from light sleep is easier. Fitness trackers and smart alarms try to wake us up at the right time. This means fewer groggy mornings.
Hormones. Our bodies make chemicals. Mornings start with a hormone mix. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is a key part. It rises about 30-40 minutes after waking up. This is called the cortisol awakening response (CAR). Cortisol helps us wake up and get going.
It usually jumps 50 to 100% from its base level. How much cortisol rises depends on things like age, gender, and wake-up time. Waking up earlier means a stronger CAR. Weekdays also bring more cortisol than weekends. If you expect a hard day, your body makes more cortisol.
Your mood before bed matters in the morning. Problems seem smaller after sleep. But, if you worry all night, your brain stays alert. One study found anxious people had more cortisol in the morning. High cortisol can cause anxiety. So, stressing before bed can make for a bad morning.
Circadian rhythms. Our body's clock affects morning moods. Some people are "larks" and wake up early easily. Others are "owls" and feel better later in the day. If an owl wakes up early, they will feel tired. Their body clock is still in sleep mode.
Research shows that evening people are more prone to anxiety. This is especially true if they must wake up early. Shift work can also hurt mental health. Shift work raises the risk of depression. It seems that when our body clock is off, mornings are tough.
Lastly, bad sleep leads to bad mornings. Insomnia, waking up often, or not enough sleep drains the brain. Sleep quality affects our next-day mood. A study of 208 adults found that better sleep meant a better mood.