6 Things You Should Do At Night If You Want To Be Happier In The Morning

Setting yourself up for a good day doesn’t just mean having a solid morning routine in place (though that’s important too). How you spend your evenings is a key part of the equation, yet one that’s sometimes overlooked.

You might be surprised at how a few small tweaks to your nighttime habits can make a considerable difference in your happiness come morning.

We asked experts to share what evening practices will have the most positive effect on your mood the following day. Here’s what we learned:

Take an evening walk.

Maybe it’s a post-dinner stroll around the block or one last potty walk with your dog before you turn in for the night. But just a few minutes gentle movement outdoors can reduce blood sugar levels after a meal and help you wind down.

“I go for a walk every evening, which allows me to process the day’s information as my blood flow increases to my brain,” U.K. psychologist and well-being specialist Lee Chambers told HuffPost. “This mental tidying up gives my busy mind a level of peace, meaning I go to bed with a quiet environment and a quiet internal dialogue.”

If you’re going to be walking outside when it’s dark, be sure to take some basic safety precautions: wear reflective gear or bright-colored clothes, choose a well-lit and familiar route, ask someone else to tag along or bring your phone just in case you need it (but avoid texting, putting in your headphones or other distractions).

Put your phone down, ideally in another room.

You’ve no doubt noticed that a good night’s sleep has a significant effect on your mental state the next morning — and there’s “tons of evidence”supporting that, said Laurie Santos, a Yale University psychology professor and host of “The Happiness Lab” podcast.

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