It’s only just beginning to feel like autumn, but the dark mornings are already starting to take their toll.

The chill of autumn already makes waking up less than pleasant, especially if you’re trying to avoid switching on your heating. Waking up in the dark and dragging yourself to the shower can often leave you feeling pretty groggy and rubbish for the first few hours of the day, too.

It’s getting out of bed in the first place, though, that feels like the most Everest-like challenge. But what is it about waking up in the dark that makes getting out of bed so bloody difficult? And is there anything we can do to make it a little easier?

Why is it so much harder to get out of bed in the autumn when it’s dark outside?