Today’s Solutions: March 29, 2024

As the saying goes, “the early bird gets the worm,” but it turns out waking up early can provide even more benefits than previously thought. A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, Harvard, and MIT has found that waking up an hour earlier can reduce the risk of depression by 23 percent. 

To come to this conclusion, the researchers analyzed data from 800,000 subjects from 23andMe and UK Biobank. Of those surveyed, 85,000 wore sleep trackers and 250,000 filled out sleep preference surveys. When comparing sleep schedules to medical histories, they found that those described as “morning people” had significantly lower rates of depression. 

The researchers emphasize that those who are genetically predisposed as “morning people” likely have lower rates of depression because our societal structure is set up to support early risers. However, even if you’re not a natural early riser, making the effort to shift your sleep schedule to rise one or two hours earlier can have a significant positive effect on mental health. 

Source Study: JAMA Psychiatry – Genetically Proxied Diurnal Preference, Sleep Timing, and Risk of Major Depressive Disorder

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

NaviLens: championing inclusive urban transport for the blind and visually im...

Every journey in the fast-paced urban transportation world presents its own obstacles. For people with visual impairments, riding public transit might feel like starting ...

Read More

A positive guide to navigating climate chaos

Maintaining hope in the face of the climate crisis is more than simply a psychological exercise; it is essential for motivating action and behavioral ...

Read More

8 benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning

Even if your morning routine is already jam-packed, we have one tiny thing we suggest you add to that routine: drinking a cup of ...

Read More

Study: Exercise after vaccination may boost immunity

If you thought it was better to take it easy after getting your vaccine, you may want to think again. In a new study ...

Read More