This is the reason why we wake up before our alarm

Publish Date
Monday, 4 December 2017, 8:26AM
Photo / Getty Images

Photo / Getty Images

Have you ever wondered why you wake up before your alarm? We have too! We wanted that extra 10 minutes sleep!

The term 'circadian rhythm' explains it all... don't worry we didn't know what it means either. It keeps you energised in the morning and drowsy in the evening, prompting sleep. Essentially it's a 24 hour-internal clock.

It loves routine.

If you're one of those people that go to bed and wake up every morning at the same time, your body will become familiar with that behaviour.

Your sleep patterns are controlled by certain proteins, these rise a fall throughout the day. They also affect your attention and cognitive ability sooooo you're gonna get sleepy.

These start to increase an hour before you normally wake up so it anticipates your rising. Hence why you sometimes wake before your alarm, only if you're an organized sleeper.

If you sleep through your alarm...

As you would expect it... it conversely means you probably aren't getting enough sleep. Wow, what a surprise. Or it could mean that you sleeping pattern isn't regular.

Basically, you need to wake up the same time on the weekend as you do on the weekday, so you don't throw off your internal rhythm (don't shoot the messenger), we're just trying to help.

So have a consistent sleeping pattern. All you have to do now is weigh up how important those nights out are. 

 

 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you