5 TICK TOCK!

Turns out your body clock – or circadian rhythm as it’s technically called – does much more than regulate when you feel drowsy and when you feel awake. It also controls your metabolism, your appetite and even has a role to play in blood glucose control. So when it’s out of whack, as well as losing some sleep, your risk of everything from heart disease to obesity and even some cancers can start to climb. To make sure your body clock’s keeping good time…

• Exercise in the afternoon Compared to working out at other times of the day, being physically active between lunch and dinner helps keep your circadian rhythm on an even keel, say US researchers.

• Avoid the snooze button Sleeping in may feel fantastic, but research shows that it wreaks havoc with your body clock. If you feel like you need some extra shut-eye, go to bed earlier instead.

• And when you do get up Make throwing open the curtains a priority. Exposure to daylight first thing suppresses melatonin, the hormone that encourages sleep, so it’s easier to get up. Plus, it makes falling asleep at night easier, too.