If you’ve been having lots of late nights and early mornings during December, maybe you’re hoping to catch up on all the sleep you’ve lost during twixmas. But is this really possible?

There’s little science to show that you can really catch up on sleep hour by hour, so switching to 56 hours per week instead of eight hours per night is almost definitely a bad idea. But there’s no harm in sleeping more over Christmas if you’ve had a busy few weeks and are feeling run down. “As long as it’s within a two-week window, you should benefit from ‘catching up on sleep’,” Albright says.

This doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to force yourself to sleep, but if you are feeling tired, there’s no harm in letting yourself catch some extra Zs. After all, sleep is seriously beneficial for our health. “While you’re sleeping, your body releases small proteins called cytokines, which help the body fight against pain, inflammation and even stress,” explains Albright.

Studies have linked sleep to so many health benefits, from improving your immune system to boosting your mental function. So if your family make a joke about you getting out of bed after 11am, tell them you’re simply trying to look after your health.

Why catching up on sleep during Christmas is great for your health