If waking up in the morning feels like an impossible task, your first stop should be increasing your natural light exposure. It’s the best way to deal with the number one disruptor of morning energy levels during the winter months – the darkness.

“Natural light contains a spectrum of wavelengths, including blue light, that play a crucial role in regulating the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep-wake cycles,” explains Dr Giuseppe Aragona, GP and online medical adviser for Prescription Doctor.

“When you expose yourself to sunlight, particularly in the early morning, it signals to your body that it’s time to wake up and be alert,” he adds. “This exposure helps to suppress the production of the sleep hormone, melatonin.”

As the production of melatonin is suppressed, the production of cortisol – also known as the stress hormone – increases. While high levels of cortisol (like when you’re really stressed out at work) can be damaging, you need some cortisol to wake up and feel alert, and it’s for this reason that morning light exposure can be the perfect antidote to grogginess.

Morning grogginess: 9 science-backed ways to shake off drowsiness after waking during winter