The Daily News – April 28, 2025

Have you ever noticed that life just feels better in the morning, like you’re ready to take on the world, and then by midnight you’re questioning all of your life choices? Well, scientists at University College of London say there’s a reason for that. A new study found that happiness peaks in the morning and slowly declines throughout the day, hitting rock bottom by midnight. So if you feel all rah rah, rah at 8:00 AM but have been reduced to blah, blah, blah, by 11:59 PM you’re not alone. Researchers analyze data from over 49,000 adults across two years. They tracked happiness, life satisfaction, feelings of purpose, and loneliness. The results mornings win as the hours pass. Our mood takes a slow but steady nose dive, and it’s not just the time of day. Mental wellbeing also changes with the seasons and even the day of the week. The study found that people are mentally better off in the summer. No surprise there. And midweek is the hardest to get through Tuesdays and Wednesdays, absolutely brutal. But interestingly, Mondays and Fridays ranked higher in happiness than Sundays. So what’s behind this daily emotional rollercoaster? Researchers think it’s tied to our body clock. Cortisol is a hormone that controls mood and motivation. It’s spikes in the morning and drops to its lowest point by bedtime. Basically, our bodies are designed to give us an energy and mood boost at the start of the day before winding things down at night. And here’s where this research could really make a difference. The article notes that if future studies confirm these patterns, mental health services might rethink their availability, offering more late night support when people need it most, because let’s be real.
2:00 AM is when those dark thoughts can really hit. Remember, if life feels tough at night, try getting a good night’s rest and things will likely feel better in the morning. Take care of yourself and thanks for watching the Daily News.