This is the most stressful time of day, according to a new poll
Watch: The most stressful time of day is 8.15am, according to a study
The most stressful time of day has been revealed, and it will likely come as absolutely no shock to anyone who doesn't like mornings.
Turns out 8.15am is the most anxiety-inducing period of the entire day, according to a new study.
The poll, of 2,000 adults found 35% experience stress during the first part of the day, with the prospect of the working day ahead, struggling to leave the house on time, and oversleeping the most common early morning challenges.
As well as dealing with the unpredictability of kids’ emotions - in addition to both feeding and dressing them and making packed lunches, coping with the school run, looking for lost house keys, and figuring out what to wear are other common morning anxieties many of us experience on a daily basis.
At a time of the day when every second counts, those polled typically lose 20 minutes and 28 seconds to morning trials and tribulations.
As well as uncovering the times of the day we find particularly stressful, the research, which forms part of Onken's Feed Your Inner Happiness campaign also revealed over half (51%) of adults feel there’s "never" enough time in the day to get things done.
It's little wonder therefore, that the same number of Brits are "often overwhelmed", with 47% claiming to be busier now than ever before.
This might explain why over a third (35%) "don't know" how to find time to do things which make them happy, and why 37% have "forgotten" how to make time for themselves.
It also emerged those polled aren’t enjoying as many as moments of happiness as they "need".
According to the research, the typical adult ‘needs’ 27 moments of happiness a week - roughly four-a-day.
However, those polled actually get 20, which is around three a day.
As a result, 57 per cent think they should make more effort to prioritise doing things which make them happy.
These include getting lost in a good book (54%) and tucking into delicious food (48%).
Why do we find mornings so stressful?
The am anxiety so many of us are feeling can partly be attributed to feelings of overwhelm, brought about by morning busyness.
"The mornings are when people gear themselves up for the day ahead and when things can feel overwhelming, especially on a Monday morning," explains Dr Henk Swanepoel, head of psychology at Cygnet Health Care.
"There might be a busy day at work ahead which is giving you anxiety, you are sorting the children for the school run, doing last minute preparations and struggling to leave the house on time. These common early morning challenges can build up stress levels.
"Essentially, when you wake up, the pressure of completing the day's tasks may feel overwhelming, and biologically, your hormones can make that stress feel worse."
Dr Swanopoel says stress can manifest itself more in the mornings for a number of reasons.
"One cause is more biological in nature," he explains. "Stress is the body’s natural response to unpleasant stimuli which often serves as an alarm or reminder of something.
"In response, the body releases cortisol, often called the stress hormone, as a response to a real or perceived threat or concern.
"The body releases an abundance of cortisol in the morning, reaching its highest concentration levels in the blood between 8 and 10 am. An increase in cortisol levels might worsen symptoms of anxiety and stress, such as heightened blood flow and adrenaline levels."
How to calm am anxiety
Thankfully there are some tips and tricks you can adopt to stop morning stress taking over.
- Incorporate lifestyle changes - Dr Swanopoel says making switches, such as eating a healthy breakfast, exercising regularly, getting better sleep, and practicing mindfulness can all help calm feelings of stress in the morning.
- Give yourself more minutes - Allow yourself more time in the morning to establish a good and consistent routine. "Rushing will make you feel more stressed and anxious," Dr Swanopoel explains. "Getting up a bit earlier will help you feel in control of your morning and give you time to take steps to prevent stress, like eating breakfast and exercising."
- Talk it through - Dr Swanopoel says talking through your day before work with a partner/friend/family member can also help you feel more in control of the day ahead.
Additional reporting SWNS.
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