Grumpy Guts

Monday 25 January 2010

Seven out of ten Brits start the day in a bad mood, new research has revealed.

Tiredness, stress and hunger leads to 70 per cent of workers getting out of bed on the wrong side in the morning.

But for many, waking up in a bad mood can affect the whole day as 41 per cent say being grumpy in the mornings has a massive effect on the quality of their work.

And 18 per cent have even fallen out with their boss or colleague thanks to their bad temper in the mornings.

The stats, which emerged in a study to mark the launch of Farmhouse Breakfast Week, also found that one in five has also rowed with their partner about their grumpiness when they get out of bed.

However, researchers found that those who have breakfast in the mornings are less likely to start the day in a bad mood, with just 63 per cent admitting to feeling grumpy compared to just 74 per cent of those who skip the meal.

Professor Geoff Beattie, Head of School and Dean of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester said: "The research findings paint a woeful picture of mornings in the UK, with so many people starting the day in a bad mood and skipping the most important meal of the day.  Breakfast time is a great opportunity to socialise with your nearest and dearest, or even colleagues.  Those who eat breakfast are also less likely to be depressed, and have lower perceived levels of stress (1) - just one more reason to make time for breakfast." 

The study of 2,000 Brits revealed that the average adult wakes up in a bad mood eight mornings a month.

And almost three quarters say they struggle to wake-up in the mornings, with the average Brit not properly awake until 9.31am.

Having a nice cup of tea was named as the best way to try and banish the bad moods in the morning, closely followed by a shower.

Eating some breakfast, exercising and listening to loud music were also popular ways of waking up in the mornings.

The study also revealed that, for those who do eat breakfast, cereal is the most popular choice followed by toast and fruit.

But 18 per cent of Brits admitted they rarely have anything to eat in the mornings.

Elsa Brown spokesperson for Farmhouse Breakfast Week added: "Studies show that breakfast eaters tend to be happier¹, healthier and more alert than those who skip breakfast.  So, it really pays off to make time for breakfast."

- Ends -

For further information contact:

Naomi Barry or Amanda Wadlow

Ceres                                                                                 

T: 0118 947 5956 / 07920 098 498                                        

E: naomi.barry@ceres-pr.co.uk  E: amanda.wadlow@ceres-pr.co.uk

Or visit: www.farmhousebreakfast.com and follow us on Twitter twitter.com/breakfastweek

Editors Notes:

• Farmhouse Breakfast Week is organised by HGCA
• HGCA aims to improve the production and marketing of cereals. It provides market information, assists cereal product development, promotes exports and funds research and development. It is a division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
• For further information visit www.farmhousebreakfast.com

(1) Studies carried out at the University of Bristol examined the breakfast habits of 126 volunteers between the ages of 20 and 79 and assessed their mental health found that those who ate breakfast everyday were less depressed, less emotionally distressed and had lower perceived levels of stress compared with those who skipped the first meal of the day. Smith 1998