Warm Weather Increases Happiness

Last month, I couldn’t wait to get outdoors after the too-long winter, so I threw on old jeans and an older sweatshirt and transplanted 222 daylilies. Was it fun? Not really. The ground was still cold and hard, and the roots of the lilies were entrenched in their old home.
Husband, John found me a shovel with a sharp edge and I stepped on it maybe a hundred times till the earth gave me room to move the bulbs to a spot over the bay on our deck. But, the good news is that they look happy, snuggled between largish, red Mandeville flowers. I remain hopeful for a crop this summer.
Is it finally summer? Really? This was the eternal, blustery marshlands winter. But, finally, my new, plum bike told me to climb on, plug in earbuds, shift my cell to Johann Sebastian Bach, throw on a helmet, and ride at sunrise.
There was not much traffic May 17 on Stone Harbor Boulevard. I turned left and pedaled past the middle school. A lone teacher waved hello. The road cleared. No walkers, just me and a few snowy, white egrets.
I curved the bend and Benny’s Landing looked as inviting as ever. The amalgam of the egrets, the marshlands, and Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” started my day; lucky me.
I ask myself what there is about warm spring weather that creates automatic happiness for me at sunrise. I find a Huffington Post article that notes a 2004 University of Michigan study that unearthed that people who spent at least 30 minutes outside in pleasant weather had happier moods, just as a later study concluded that being outside can lead to a better mindset and reduce stress.
Why? People simply feel better on longer days and when there’s more available sunshine.
“The winter variety of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is mostly tied to how long the day is,” said Kelly Rohan, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatric science at the University of Vermont.
The University of Michigan study also found that being outdoors in enjoyable climates can improve memory and broaden cognitive style, which is linked to more creative thoughts.
“Being outside in pleasant weather really offers a way to reset your mindset,” said Matthew Keller, one of the study’s authors. “Everyone thinks weather affects mood, but the biggest test of this theory … found no relationship, so we went back and found there are two important variables: how much time you spend outside and what the season is. If you go from winter to spring and spend enough time outside, there’s a noticeable change.”
For weather to improve mood, subjects needed to spend at least 30 minutes outside in warm, sunny weather. Contrary to their initial expectations, researchers found that spending time indoors when the weather outside was pleasant actually decreased mood and narrowed cognitive style. They suspected this might be because people resent being cooped-up inside when the weather becomes better in the spring, or perhaps because the improved weather can make normal indoor activities feel boring or irritating.
Hot, steamy weather does not make happiness. The researchers also found the optimal temperature for mood for most Americans is 72 degrees, about room temperature, with mood decreasing if temperatures become significantly higher or lower. There were regional differences, however, with mood peaking at 65 degrees in Michigan and 86 degrees in considerably warmer Texas.
So, this spring, repot your plants… outdoors. Take a walk… outdoors. Have a cup of coffee… outdoors. Get up and get out of the house. Smile at the sunshine that is creating your happiness by smiling on you and those you love.
To consider: How did our nasty winter impact your mood? Do you feel happier now that the weather is better? Are you outside enjoying it? If not, why not?
To explore: The University of Michigan. Psychology. The impact of weather on life. https://bit.ly/2LpQKlG
Reach Dr. Coche through www.cochecenter.com. Request a free brochure on happiness from drjudithcoche@gmail.com.