Sleep expert reveals why you should never set an alarm on a weekend

When the end of the working week rolls around, most of us can't wait to rest and recharge for a couple of days.

We say that though...and end up straight in the pub right after we've clocked off, before stumbling in at a godforsaken hour the following morning.

And if the hangover doesn't leave us bed bound, you can put money on the fact that we will probably do it all again on Saturday night too. So much for a relaxing couple of days off work, eh?

The beauty of this British pastime, though, is that we can all let loose without clock-watching throughout the entire evening while worrying about how many hours you have got until your alarm goes off.

Unless you've got somewhere important to be - or a boozy bottomless brunch you need to be on time for - there's no need to rush out of bed in the morning,

And according to this expert, abandoning your alarm clock for the weekend is the only way that you will feel the benefit of having a few days off from the rat race we call life - although she doesn't recommend the two day bender.

This sleep expert urged people not to set their alarm clocks over the weekend (Getty Stock Image)

Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity in Doncaster, explained that you are probably making life a lot harder for yourself by getting legless on a weekend instead of just having a chilled one.

Despite the fact you might get a second wind on a Friday evening after an early get up and a long day at work, the snoozing expert said that you are actually ending up in 'sleep debt'.

Unfortunately, she reckons that this will have a knock-on effect throughout at least the next week - and your brain will still be playing catchup by the time the following weekend rolls around.

Sharing her advice for a rejuvenating ritual for the end of the working week, Lisa told the Daily Mail: "Taking it easy on the weekend may sound boring, but it does your body a world of good - especially when it comes to sleep.

"We operate on a roughly 24-hour cycle called the circadian rhythm, regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus.

"Maintaining a regular sleeping pattern on the weekend, i.e. not going out drinking and partying till the break of dawn, preserves this cycle, allowing the body to recharge as normal."

Lisa Artis says the only way you can feel recharged is by making sure you have uninterrupted sleep (Getty Stock Image)

There is another crucial component which will ensure your body has a chance to relax properly too - uninterrupted sleep.

Lisa explained that you are best off switching your alarm off on Saturdays and Sundays to enjoy the perks of a lie in.

She added: "With quality, uninterrupted sleep with no alarm and a restful few days, you’ll go to work on Monday feeling refreshed and ready for the week.

"In contrast, living for the weekend, staying up late and piling up sleep debt leads to increased adenosine levels - the chemical in the brain that makes us tired.

"And with work looming, there’s not enough time to recover before the week starts again. Adenosine levels will remain high until we get our sleep cycle back on track."

She warned that this can make the work feel 'more difficult' when you return on a Monday morning - so maybe choose snoozing your alarm over Sambuca in future.