Brits Wake Up Grumpy, Study Reveals

Grumpy? That's Because You're British

If you find yourself waking up on the wrong side of the bed more often than not and the alarm clock snooze button is your friend, you're not alone - a third of Brits wake up grumpy.

A survey by YouGov and PomeGreat discovered more than a third of adults in the UK dread getting out of bed and blame their early morning mood swings on work stress.

Of the 2,032 people questioned, one in four wished they didn't have to go to work, with women dreading the day ahead the most.

Despite previous studies telling us that early morning risers are 'slimmer, happier and healthier', over 29% of women feel miserable at the start of the working week, compared to 26% of men.

And it's (unsurprisingly) Monday mornings that cause the most misery, and it's the Welsh that feel the most blue, as 34% of them struggle to scramble from under the duvet, compared to 30% of Londoners, 28% Northerners and 27% of people living in Southern England.

"Work has become so stressful, more and more of us are producing the cortisol hormone in reaction to stress. This causes us to become irritable, anxious, aggressive and as a result, more unhappy in general," Dr. Dorian Dugmore, a cardiovascular expert from the study, said in a statement.

"There are plenty of things that we can do to lift our spirits in the morning. A good shower and a balanced breakfast, including a glass of juice, have been clinically proven to improve our mood.

"Furthermore, simple activities like singing in the shower can release endorphins which reduce stress and lower our heart rate, assuming the song is a happy one."

Feeling stressed out can also play havoc with our sleep patterns, leading to disruptive sleep and insomnia.

"Lack of sleep can lead to low energy and concentration levels, depression, immune deficiency, relationship problems, weight gain (as the mind tries to boost energy by making us eat more), and even serious medical problems such as heart disease," says cognitive hypnotherapist, Lesley McCall.

To avoid these sleep-related health worries, find out how to block out your daily stresses and beat the night demons.

If you feel your most grouchy in the mornings, take a look at these easy tips on how to rise early feeling refresh and ready for they day ahead.

How To Become A Happy, Early Riser
How To Wake Up Feeling Refreshed (01 of06)
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With expert tips from life coach Sophia Davis. (credit:Alamy)
Positive Affirmations(02 of06)
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"Sounds simple, but just by telling yourself that you are going to have a great day and feel energised and happy will make a massive amount of difference. You get back what you put out, and even science is telling us how powerful our thoughts are." (credit:Getty Images)
Ease Yourself Out Of Bed Gently(03 of06)
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"Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier than you need to get up. Find some nice calm or uplifting music online and download it onto your phone to use as an alarm. It eases you into your day far better than a loud beep and a rush to get up will." (credit:Getty)
Head To The Gym Or Cycle To Work(04 of06)
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"Exercise in the morning will set you up nicely to feel re-energised and ready for your day. "Not only this, but you will feel great about yourself having worked your muscles and relaxed and centred your mind before your day really begins." (credit:Getty Images)
Get To Bed Before The Clock Strikes Midnight(05 of06)
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"It has been proven that you get a better quality of sleep before 12 and ancient Chinese practitioners swear by it!" (credit:Alamy)
Meditation(06 of06)
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"Sitting quietly for 10 minutes in the morning upright and concentrating on your breath, or listening to a guided re-energising meditation which you can listen to free on YouTube or download online will do wonders for your general well-being. "Large companies like Ernst and Young are now introducing meditation into the workplace because its proven effects on wellbeing and concentration amongst other things. Its simple to do, and costs nothing, so give it a go and watch yourself go from strength to strength." (credit:Alamy)