Americans report feeling more energized when traveling in the morning than at night

Nearly half of Americans are traveling this spring (47%), according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 Americans looked at how people are keeping up with changing seasons and found that parents will especially be on the move (51%), and a similar percentage said springtime requires them to have more energy to keep up with their kids (49%).

One in eight respondents said they have difficulty staying energized while traveling, and 46% said they’re more likely to feel energized when traveling in the morning than at night.

One in six claim that they’ve traveled for at least 10 hours without stopping to eat.

Conducted by OnePoll for Dutch Bros, the survey also found that 44% of Americans need an energizing pick-me-up to help gear themselves up for warmer weather.

A majority of respondents said spring is the season of change (73%), leaving people feeling fresh (43%) and motivated (35%).

Seven in 10 said they want to be more spontaneous in the spring after being cooped up in their house during the winter (71%).

The survey split respondents by what drink they prefer to help get them through their day, with those who prefer coffee (73%) and energy drinks in the morning (79%) being some of the most likely to want a spontaneous change in the spring.

Half of respondents even said they try to change at least one thing in their life with the start of each new season.

This year, some of these changes include refreshing their goals (32%), cleaning up their diet (29%) and exploring new hobbies (27%). Being more social is also a particular area of focus for parents (29%).

"Spring is such a motivating time of the year. We're leaving the cold winter days behind us and looking ahead to longer days with warmer weather," said Charles Swindler, senior vice president of brand at Dutch Bros. "There's no better time to try new things, get into new habits or find new ways to give you a little extra energy during the seasonal transition!"

All of this change may leave people feeling tired, with 44% saying they reach their first slump of the day in the afternoon (between 12-5 p.m.).

Surprisingly, one in eight hit their first slump earlier in the morning. Those who drink energy drinks in the morning are most likely to experience this (14%).

It doesn’t help that the average American skips breakfast three days a week. However, 43% make a point to always drink something during those mornings.

The average person claims their body can run four hours on just a morning beverage. Survey-takers who get their energy from coffee and smoothie/juices are the most likely to be able to last a full workday with just a morning drink.

When it comes to de-stressing, you don't need to go all out on an expensive trip to unwind.

Respondents are more likely to say that cheaper, smaller pleasures like a good cup of coffee or taking a brisk walk has a better impact on their mood than larger pleasures like splurging on something expensive or going on vacation (30% vs. 20%).

And if you want to uplift your mood but don’t want to break the bank, results showed that being outdoors in the fresh air is enough of a spring pick-me-up for 43% of respondents.

Others feel like they need a vacation (25%) or caffeine from coffee or tea to help restore some energy (18%).

"Whether you have spring break coming up and a laundry list of things to get done or you're just feeling the weight of the day, don't underestimate what a good pick-me-up during the craziness can have,” said Swindler.

Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Dutch Bros between March 2 and March 8, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).