Wake up! Why Morning People Are Happier

Morning people are generally more energetic, cheerful and satisfied with life. Can you make the switch?

Many people agree with famous cartoonist Jim Davis who said, "good morning is a contradiction of terms."

However, it turns out that morning people are generally more energetic, cheerful and satisfied with life, according to research from the University of Toronto. Research has also shown that sunlight plays a big role when it comes to your mood, alertness and energy.

Morning people typically say they feel healthier as well, which could be attributed to their sleeping patterns.

Special guest and licensed psychologist, Shelby Freedman Harris, PsyD, specializes in behavioral sleep medicine and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depressive disorders.

In this enlightening interview, Dr. Harris shares easy ways to light up your life and become a morning person.

Additional Info

Segment Number: 5
Audio File: staying_well/1326sw1e.mp3
Featured Speaker: Shelby Freedman Harris, PsyD
Guest Website: Dr. Shelby Harris
Guest Bio: Shelby Freedman Harris, Psy.D., C.BSM is Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Neurology as well as Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is board certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

A graduate of Brown University, Dr. Harris received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. Dr. Harris completed her predoctoral internship at Montefiore Medical Center where she trained in the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center, and has received advanced postdoctoral training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depressive disorders.

As a licensed psychologist, Dr. Harris specializes in behavioral sleep medicine and CBT for anxiety and depression. She has published and presented research on the neuropsychological effects of insomnia in older adults as well as behavioral treatments for insomnia, parasomnias, narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness. Dr. Harris currently supervises students from the Montefiore Psychology Internship, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology Cognitive Behavior Therapy Program and the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center Fellowship.
Length (mins): 10
Waiver Received: Yes
Host: Melanie Cole, MS

Published in Staying Well

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