Enjoy the extra sleep this weekend when the clocks change... because it won't last

We are all going to get an hour's sleep this weekend - but enjoy it while it lasts. Scientists say the effect of the clock change wears off very quickly. So while we might sleep extra well on Saturday night, thanks to the clocks going back an hour, we'll be tossing and turning again within just a few days. In other words, our last good sleep of the year is just around the corner.

 

Bedtime: Scientists say our last good sleep of the year is just around the corner

The warning follows a survey of more than 3,000 British adults, which revealed that quality of sleep leaps as the clocks change in October. Many people also feel happier and more energetic. However, the benefits of the Sunday morning lie-in are short-lived, with quality of sleep quickly dropping off, leaving many people sleeping worse than before. Asked how well they slept, the men and women gave themselves an average score of 5.4 out of ten ahead of the clock change. This rose to 5.8 immediately afterwards, before dropping to just 4.5. And as people struggled to sleep, tiredness and moodiness increased, the Great British Sleep Survey found.

Professor Colin Espie, founder of the sleep centre at Glasgow University, said: 'Whilst the clock change may give some respite to poor sleep sufferers and a respite to those who already sleep well, these results suggest the effects are temporary. 'Once our bodies acclimatise to the new sleep schedule, sleep quality actually drops significantly. 'Our sleep is then likely to deteriorate further as the winter progresses.' This is because as the nights get longer, we are tempted to go to bed earlier and get up later - and end up tossing and turning as a result.

The sleep survey was commissioned by Sleepio, an online programme designed to help people solve their sleep problems without resorting to pills. The £49.99 package, which has been shown to give results within just six weeks, helps people find ways of mentally processing the day's worries before they turn in, in an attempt to stop their mind from racing when they are bed. It also helps people work out just how many hours of sleep they need to feel their best.

Daily Mail UK

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