by Helen Breese,Nottingham Trent University

Credit: Yan Krukau/Pexels

A study by psychologists at Nottingham Trent University suggests that mornings are the optimal time for older adults to engage in age-related interventions to maximize well-being. The research involved 86 men and women aged 60 to 81 who completed online questionnaires once early in the morning and once in the late afternoon or early evening. The work ispublishedin the journalChronobiology International.

They were questioned on how old they feel, daytime sleepiness, positivity about aging and how open they are to new ideas and changes, known as "cognitive closure." They also completed aquestionnairewhich identified whether they are naturally more alert in the morning or evening.

The majority of participants were found to be "morning people" and reported feeling significantly younger earlier in the day than in the evening. They also felt less sleepy at that time of day.

Measures of positive feelings about aging didn't change from morning to evening, and while cognitive closure also remained stable, people who felt sleepier overall tended to be less open to change.

Sleepinesswas also associated with more anxiety, stress and low mood, as well as lower positivity about aging.

Dr. Stephen Badham, lead researcher and Associate Professor in Psychology at NTU's School of Social Sciences, said, "This study is not about making sure older adults get more sleep, but rather to explore whether it may be more beneficial to engage with activities when they are most alert.

"Our findings suggest thatmotivation to be activeor to change behavior may fluctuate with alertness and sense of well-being throughout the day.

"Morning for many of our participants was seen to be the better time for activities requiring concentration, decision-making, or learning something new. So, for example, important medical, financial or lifestyle decision-making opportunities should be offered earlier in the day."

The research also recommends that organizations should tailor their services to people's natural preferences for being more alert at certain times of day wherever possible.

"While most older adults are morning-oriented, not everyone is. Simply asking about preferred times of day could improve engagement," added Dr. Badham.

More information Stephen P Badham et al, People over 60 feel younger in the morning: A good time of day to enhance wellbeing?, Chronobiology International (2026). DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2026.2648753