A couple of extra minutes is all we ask for
It's cold, wet and dark. The last thing we want to do when the alarm goes off is get out of the warm, cosy bed.
New research reveals exactly that, and 39 per cent of us are skipping breakfast to avoid being even more late for work - not the best idea for productivity levels.
The study highlights the extent to which the onset of autumn is already beginning to have a lethargic effect on people living in the UK.
The key factors that influence each person's Snooze Factor, a combination of darker mornings, wetter weather and colder temperatures. These have been found to have a greater effect on women with them struggling to cope with the daily ritual of getting out of bed.
Dr Dawn Harper, a leading British GP and co-presenter of Embarrassing Bodies, says: "Whilst it may be tempting to to sleep in for longer on winter mornings, this shouldn't be at the expense of your breakfast or your job.
"Having a healthy breakfast like porridge is a great way to boost energy levels and improve your mood. It releases energy slowly, keeping you fuller for longer and is high in vitamin B6 which stimulates serotonin and feelings of well-being."
The survey commissioned by Quaker also reveals that more than a quarter of Britons admit that they will take an unplanned duvet day, for extra time under the covers this month and one fifth will increase their daily snooze time up to an hour, even if they know it will make them late for work.
Instead of eating breakfast, we are a nation reliant on coffee with 53 per cent stating it is the most imporant product consumed to help us through winter mornings.
The research has also identified that our snooze button is fast becoming one of the most used controls in the home, with one in five people pressing it up to 25 times each week. This is nearly twice as often as in the summer affording the nation an extra 10 hours a month in bed.