Rise and Shine!

Sleeping badly, craving carbs, lacking energy? Low light levels effect our natural body clock. Rev yours up...

• Resist the urge to hit the snooze button on your alarm, says Dr Neil Stanley, independent sleep expert (www.thesleepconsultancy.com). Set your alarm for when you want to get up, then pull back the curtains or turn on the light to kick start your body. Snoozing can allow you to drift back into deep sleep, which is more difficult for your body to wake up from.
• Invest in a gadget that wakes you with gradually brightening light, like a sunrise. Try Lumie’s Bodyclock Active, £99.95 (www.lumie.com), or Philips HF3485 Wake-up light £99.99 (www.amazon.co.uk) to boost your mood and productivity levels.
• Use an uplifting aromatherapy blend in the shower each morning. Energising essential oils will help boost your circulation, and their aroma is enhanced by steam. Pink grapefruit and juniper berry are fantastic stimulants, says Aromatherapy Associates’ Geraldine Howerd (www.aromatherapyassociates.com)