While this might be easier said than done, with our British skies more often than not cloudy and grey, you should be making the effort to get as much morning daylight as you can – even if this isn’t strictly sunlight.

Natural daylight has a direct effect on circadian rhythm – hence our ancestors used to fall asleep when it got dark and rose with the sun. Our reliance on technology and electricity means we can lose touch with the natural ebb and flow of our sleep hormones (serotonin and melatonin), leading to poor quality sleep, tiredness and fatigue.

“Exposure to light is one of the most important cues for regulating the circadian rhythm,” explains sleep expert and psychotherapist Heather Darwall-Smith. “This rhythm is controlled by an internal ‘biological clock’ in the hypothalamus. Light exposure helps to set the timing of the biological clock and the presence of light in the morning helps to promote wakefulness, while darkness in the evening promotes sleepiness.”

Exposing ourselves to plenty of (preferably bright and sunny) morning daylight helps to regulate our production of these sleep hormones, supporting healthier sleep hygiene.

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