Weary Brits are being urged not to indulge in a bank holiday lie-in with experts warning it could cause more damage to sleep patterns.

The fitted bedroom experts at online-bedrooms.co.uk are urging those bank holiday over sleepers to think twice about a longer snooze to benefit their overall health.

They claim those few extra hours in bed will not compensate for a lack of sleep during the week and can actually be causing more damage to our health.

Instead, bank holiday over-sleepers are encouraged to get out in the sunshine first thing in the morning, benefitting the regulation of their hormones and sleep patterns.

Nic Shacklock from online-bedrooms.co.uk said: “Although having a bank holiday lie-in can be extremely tempting, switching your sleeping pattern around can have an extremely disruptive effect on your body.

“If you are a frequent oversleeper, or someone who eagerly awaits a bank holiday just so you can spend some extra time in bed, it may be a good idea to take a closer look at your sleeping habits.

“Our body clock is very important and works best when we are giving ourselves enough rest and recuperation, with consistent sleep and wake schedules. Constant yo-yoing in your routine can lead to lower mood, slower reaction time and less quality sleep.”

Here are online-bedrooms.co.uk’s top tips for preventing those bank holiday lie-ins:

Set up healthy sleep habits
A sleep routine will help encourage a healthy sleeping pattern. Try and set a time to unwind, get into bed and unplug for the day, as well as a time you will wake up and get out of bed every morning.

Sticking to this routine will support your body’s internal clock. Irregularities in your sleeping pattern can make it harder to fall asleep and therefore cause longer mornings spent in bed due to drowsiness and fatigue.

Eat healthily
Diet is a huge factor when it comes to healthy sleep habits. Foods like salmon, chicken, whole grains, leafy greens, tomatoes, carrots and nuts all supply sleep-supporting nutrients. But, the key is to not eat any foods too close to bedtime. Fatty, spicy or heavy snacks before bed can affect sleep quality and cause your body to think it needs a long lie-in to battle the tiredness.

Create a calming space
Make sure your bedroom is set up for sleeping success. Whether that means investing in black out curtains, getting a more comfortable mattress or bedding set, playing calming noises before bedtime or turning off your phone to prevent any late night scrolling.

Get plenty of Vitamin D
Sunshine helps the regulation of hormones and sleep patterns by affecting the melatonin circadian rhythm. Your bodies’ circadian clock is responsible for guiding the neurotransmitters which tell you when to be awake and when to sleep.

Being in direct sunlight early in the morning, rather than laying in bed, supports a healthy circadian clock.

Exercise
Moving your body and engaging in regular activity can promote higher sleep quality and healthy sleep duration, helping those who over sleep to cut back on time spent in bed. Those who are finding themselves counting down the days to their bank holiday lie-in should consider how adding exercise into their daily routine can help them to feel at rest throughout the week, and not needing to spend those extra hours in bed.