Waking up is hard enough. Waking up at the exact same time every day—even on weekends, when you could be luxuriating for another hour (or three) under the covers—can feel borderline unreasonable.
Yet a consistent sleep schedule seven days a week is one of the most powerful ways to improve your sleep quality and, in turn, your overall well-being.
Here’s how making one small change can reset your sleep—especially as daylight saving time approaches.
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Why your body craves consistency
Sleep scientists used to focus on how much sleep people got and how many times they woke up overnight. Now, however, attention is shifting to what clinicians call “sleep regularity,” or sticking to a consistent wake-up schedule.
“This consistency in sleep schedule is one of the newest aspects of sleep that’s starting to be studied in the sleep field,” says Helen Burgess, co-director of the Sleep and Circadian Research Laboratory at the University of Michigan. “We didn’t really consider it enough before, and it’s pretty important.”
Early research suggests that people with irregular schedules are more likely to report depression, poorer sleep, and worse overall well-being—and may even show signs of metabolic disruption, like reduced insulin sensitivity.
Read More: How to Share a Bed While Getting the Best Night’s Sleep
The reason consistency matters so much comes down to your circadian rhythm: the internal clock that runs on a 24-hour cycle. “When we wake up in the morning and open our eyes, we get light. And that light in the morning is a very, very important signal for our circadian clock,” Burgess says. That clock “is basically regulating the circadian rhythms that underlie every aspect of our physical and mental health.” In other words, your brain uses morning light to set the timing for countless processes, from hormone release to body temperature to alertness.
Your circadian system is constantly trying to anticipate what’s coming next. A consistent wake-up time means you’re giving your body light at the same time every morning, which keeps that internal clock stable, Burgess explains. When you sleep in on weekends, you shift that light signal—and your clock shifts with it. That’s why Monday morning can feel like jet lag. Keeping your wake time steady seven days a week helps ensure that “all your underlying circadian rhythms are nice and stable,” Burgess says. “Everything’s occurring at the right time. And that’s a huge positive for our health.”
Is wake time more important than bedtime?
Your bedtime supports your wake time, helping ensure you hit the recommended seven to nine hours per night—so the two naturally go hand-in-hand. But if Burgess had to prioritize one over the other, she’d start with the morning, because a fixed wake-up time is what anchors your internal clock.
“In research studies, we tell people their wake time is set. So there’s no sleep-ins,” she says. Participants are allowed to go to bed earlier if they’re tired, but “we definitely try and keep the wake time quite fixed.”
What if you really need to catch up on your sleep?
If you’re running on fumes after a brutal week, it can be tempting to “catch up” by sleeping in. But Burgess says that’s not the best move. Instead, aim to turn in earlier than you normally would. Going to bed earlier preserves your fixed wake time—and keeps your internal clock aligned with its natural rhythm.
“If today has just been a day and you’re feeling exhausted, then by all means please go to bed earlier, and help yourself that way,” she says. “But we definitely try to keep the wake time quite fixed.”
How to reset your sleep schedule
Resetting your body clock doesn’t have to be drastic—a few small tweaks can make the transition easier.
Ease in
Most people do well shifting their wake time by about half an hour a day until they settle into their ideal schedule. There’s no need to push it more than that. “The circadian system is slow to shift,” Burgess says. “You’re not going to feel good if you’re like, ‘Well, I’m going to start waking up two hours earlier than normal.’”
Don’t expect immediate results
It takes most people about three days to get into the rhythm of a new sleep routine. After a week, benefits like increased daytime alertness and improved mood should kick in. “Don’t expect instantaneous results,” Burgess says. “Give your clock—your body—a little bit of time to adjust.”
Use an alarm clock
Once you choose a new wake-up time, set an alarm to reinforce it. Most people find doing so helpful in the beginning, but as your internal clock adjusts, you’ll probably start waking naturally. “When you’re really accustomed to this, you’ll typically wake up before your alarm,” Burgess says. She looks forward to the days when she opens her eyes and realizes she has another five to 10 minutes to savor the quiet before the morning unfolds.
Prioritize morning light
Instead of lingering in your dark room, aim to get as much light as you can when you wake up. While indoor light can be beneficial, “outdoor light is a bit brighter, so that might be more effective,” Burgess says. Open your blinds right away, and consider adding mirrors to your room to reflect light. (In case you’re wondering: Blue light from your phone is a poor substitute for natural sunlight, which does a much better job regulating your circadian system.)
Read More: 7 Ways to Soothe Your Nighttime Anxiety
People vary in light sensitivity, she adds, and some need more than others. If you’re struggling to adapt to your new sleep routine, consider it a sign that additional light could be helpful. Light treatment devices and wearables can also strengthen the signal to your circadian clock. Burgess tends to use the Re-Timer light device in her research, and people typically use it for 30 to 60 minutes in the morning.
And if you really want to sleep in…
Sometimes the idea of staying in bed on a Saturday is simply too appealing to resist. In that case, aim for moderation, not a free-for-all. “We don’t want to be the fun police,” Burgess says. If you’ve already trained your body to wake up at a certain time, chances are you’ll wake up close to your regular time anyway. But you could also set an alarm for half an hour later than usual. “That way, it’s a compromise,” she says. “You’re still getting some of the enjoyment of sleeping in, but you’re not going crazy with it.”
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