Just when we’ve finally gotten used to the time change from November when we “fell back” and the sun set earlier, it’s time to adjust those clocks once again. In less than a week, we “spring forward” and daylight saving time begins.
The upside? We get more daylight during the evening and it’s not dark when we leave work. But the downside is that we lose an hour of sleep, which can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health. Fortunately, there are a few things we can do now to prepare and adjust, so the change on March 8th isn’t as exhausting.
Try these now to help ease into daylight saving time next weekend:
- Get some sun first thing in the morning - This time change gives us later sunsets and longer evening daylight, which is nice for those who enjoy spending time outside after work, but we all still lose that hour of sleep. That can disrupt our circadian rhythm, but morning sun exposure can help combat this. Spending a little time outside in the morning to soak up some rays can reset your internal clock, and it’s worth it, even if you have to tweak your routine to do it.
- Slowly shift your bedtime - The idea here is that you can prepare for the kick off of daylight saving time by going to bed 15 minutes earlier every night. That way, by the time that hour of lost sleep happens on March 8th, your body will be more prepared for the shift. It’s a good idea to move the kids’ bedtime up 15 minutes earlier as well.
- Upgrade your sleep hygiene - The Sleep Foundation also recommends improving your sleep habits and bedroom environment by maintaining a set sleep schedule, having a wind down routine to get ready for bed, avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the afternoon and evenings, blocking unwanted noise and light from the bedroom, and going device free for 30 minutes before bed.
- Set your clocks the night before - That way when the time changes by an hour, you wake up seeing the new correct time and avoid potential confusion. This helps you hit the ground running, or at least you’ll know what time it really is when you drag yourself out of bed.
Source: CNet