If every morning feels like a Monday morning to you, scientists are now saying you have a ready-made excuse for hitting ‘snooze’ multiple times or being found face-down and drooling on your keyboard: genetics. New research by DNA testing company, 23andMe, has discovered that genetic programming plays a part in our wake-up time. They studied over 1,500 Brits and determine that the average natural wake-up time is 7:55am. Most people set their alarms for much earlier than that, explaining our feelings of tiredness and lack of productivity. Interrupting your body’s circadian rhythm (which is the official term for our body clock) can leave us feeling out of sorts at the beginning of the day. They also found that even if you aren’t particularly tired at the start of the day, you may experience “tiredness slumps” at other times. The UK’s National Health Service says that one in five of us get “unusually tired” and offers these suggestions to help restore alertness when the slump sets in:
➠ Exercise: It actually bolsters your energy reserve. (and is good for you!)
➠ Cutting caffeine: In the long term, switching to decaf could make a big difference.
➠ Don’t nap: Daytime snoozes can interrupt your body’s circadian rhythm and lead to your struggling to sleep at night, creating a vicious circle.
(7:55am? As a parent, I can guarantee you that no kids were involved in this study!)
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