Study finds no measurable spring fatigue
Mar 9th 2026
A yearlong survey of 418 people by Swiss chronobiologists found no seasonal spike in tiredness, suggesting spring fatigue reflects expectations and culture more than a measurable biological effect.
- Swiss chronobiologists from the University of Basel and the University of Bern published the results in the Journal of Sleep Research.
- Researchers surveyed 418 people online every six weeks for a year starting in April 2024.
- About half of participants initially reported spring fatigue but the data showed no increase in exhaustion, daytime sleepiness, or poorer sleep during spring.
- Changes in day length and differences between months or seasons did not predict reported tiredness.
- The authors interpret spring fatigue as a cultural or expectation effect rather than a biological syndrome, noting more tiredness in winter and less sleep in summer without increased exhaustion, and they recommend getting daylight, staying active, and keeping sufficient sleep.