The Science of Why Sunsets Make Us Happier

Sunsets make me happy. 🌅
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No matter how many I’ve seen, I never tire of the awe they inspire.
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Some things lose their magic with repeated exposure. Awe and gratitude do the opposite. The more we notice them, the more they grow. The more impact they have on mental health and wellbeing.
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This sunset arrived at exactly the right moment.
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I had just finished 12-hours of driving. Day two of a three-day trek from New Jersey to Montana to help my daughter get settled into her new apartment and embark on her next chapter as a medical student.
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We unloaded a car overflowing with blue IKEA Frakta bags into our hotel room in North Dakota. It was nearly 9:30 p.m., yet the sky was still glowing. I was so surprised at how light out it still was! Back home, darkness would have settled in long ago, leaving only the moon, stars, and dancing fireflies.
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After unloading the car, I went outside one last time to stretch my legs and go for a short walk after the long drive. Then I spotted it.
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The sun was just beginning to slip below the horizon.
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I sprinted up four flights of stairs to the top floor of the hotel, hoping I hadn’t missed it.
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I made it with about 30 seconds to spare.
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And for those 30 seconds, everything else faded away.

Would my day have been any worse if I’d missed the sunset? Probably not.
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But my day was undeniably better because I didn’t.
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As a psychologist, I’m fascinated by the growing research on awe and its connection to wellbeing. Researchers like Dacher Keltner have shown that moments of awe can reduce stress, quiet our inner critic, increase connection, and improve our mental health. (Check out his book – Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life).

Neuroscience research suggests that awe decreases activity in the brain’s default mode network, the system associated with self-focused thoughts, rumination, and replaying our worries, while increasing activity in areas connected to curiosity, attention, and social connection. In other words, awe helps us step outside of ourselves and experience greater presence and perspective.
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That’s why I intentionally seek these simple moments, and encourage my clients to do the same.
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And when I think about it, they’re not simple. They’re magnificent.
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Happiness isn’t found only in life’s biggest milestones.
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More often, it’s built through “small” moments that remind us to pause… notice… and fully experience the beauty that’s already around us. In my program, YOUR Happy Second Half, I call this lesson Notice. Appreciate. Feel. Linger.​
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✨ What simple moment fills your cup?
🌅A sunrise or sunset?
☕ A great cup of coffee?
🎶 Your favorite song?
📖 A book you can’t put down?
💛 A meaningful conversation?
🤗 A warm hug?
🌿 Something else?
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For me, all of the above, and make it hazelnut coffee!

In Gratitude,

Dr. Peggy

​The Gratitude Psychologist – Helping women create authentic happiness by embracing both joy and grief.

Founder of YOUR Happy Second Half – Where Positive Psychology Meets Real Life