Here are the days you’re happiest according to science, and they’re not the ones you think about

Here are the days you're happiest according to science, and they're not the ones you think about
Did you know that your weekly energy drop is not due to chance? According to researchers, our mood variations are influenced by the days of the week. Deciphering this phenomenon with Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist.

Have you noticed that you are in a low mood on Tuesday, while on Wednesday you have more energy? According to a recent study published in the journal BMJ Mental Healthemotional fluctuations are common. And they would not be due to chance…

Happiness and satisfaction increase during these two key days

To better understand our moods, researchers from University College London (UCL) recruited 49,218 adults during the Covid-19 pandemic and questioned them about their moods for almost two years (2020-2022).

Several tools allowed researchers to collect this data: the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms, and the GAD-7 anxiety test (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), a tool used to screen for generalized anxiety disorder.

Result ? At the end of the test period, the researchers discovered that Monday morning was a time “of joy“, where morale was high.

Not surprisingly, researchers attribute this phenomenon to a certain “freshness” post-weekend mental health, resulting from prolonged rest. A moment of reset, which would make one feel more “organized” And “motivated“.

Another important time of the week: Friday morning. Nothing surprising here: the imminent arrival of the weekend immediately improves your mood. The prospect of future leisure activities functions as a psychological reward.

“Happiness and overall life satisfaction…were all higher on Monday and Friday than on Sunday, and happiness was also higher on Tuesday,” say the researchers.

Conversely, “depressive symptoms were higher on Wednesday and Thursday“, admit the scientists. This drop in morale reflects the cumulative fatigue in the middle of the week and the weight of daily responsibilities (dense social interactions, piling up files, errands to (re)do, cleaning, etc.).

“Multifactorial” mood fluctuations

According to Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, these numerous mood variations turn out to be “multifactorial“.

“They result from a mixture of natural cycles, biological rhythms and personal aspirations,” assures the expert. “Monday represents a breath of fresh air for many of us – it’s a form of renewal. The weekend offered us a well-deserved regeneration, and Monday becomes the first step towards a new adventure, new energy. Our ideas are clarified, we feel pumped up, ready to attack the week.”
On the other hand, the middle of the week (Tuesday-Wednesday) is more difficult.
“The body is tired, the more thankless tasks pile up, the additional tasks too… The coming weekend is still far away. A slight depression may set in, comparable to a feeling of emptiness or sluggishness…”, underlines the psychologist.
Amélie Boukhobza specifies that Sunday evening can (also) be a source of depression. “At this moment, we are already starting to feel the pressure of recovery. The weekend slips away and anxiety slowly sets in, responsibilities are reminded of us.”

Can we act on these drops in morale? Yes, assures our expert

Faced with this alternation of ups and downs, how should we react? The solution does not lie in waiting for the weekend to free yourself, but in adding small doses of pleasure and lightness in the middle of the week, explains Amélie Boukhobza. So, it is preferable:
  • Not to let your energy be caught up in the metro-work-sleep routine;
  • To dare to have a coffee on the terrace in the morning, to enjoy the daylight, even during a short break;
  • To plan an outing, a movie, a “pleasure” meeting during the week;
  • To take time for yourself amidst the obligations and constraints of the day.
“And why not introduce movement, to disconnect and clear your mind? Sport is not only a question of muscles or aesthetics, but of the release of energy, relief and new sensations. An anti-stress par excellence!”, assures Amélie Boukhobza.
Eventually, “these mood swings can be tamed if we listen to ourselves a little more, if we learn to break the routine through small, well-targeted actions. The main idea: no longer endure your week but take back the reins of your life and decide what we want to do with our days!” concludes the specialist.