Daylight Saving Time: Every Hour of Sleep Matters
In March, we sprung our clocks forward one hour as we entered the beautiful summer season. Now, it's time to fall back an hour as we move into the fall and winter. This weekend, let's prepare our minds and clocks for an extra hour of sleep!
Don't Let the Darkness Fool You
While no one likes losing an hour of sleep in the springtime, the commencement of Daylight Saving Time in the fall provides some much-needed, added rest.
Even though we gain an extra hour of snooze this weekend, your sleep health can be negatively affected. Your circadian rhythm, your body's natural 24-hour cycle, gets thrown off due to the time change and shift in sleep. You might experience grogginess, tiredness, irritability, and sluggishness the following day.
Your circadian rhythm is internal but can be influenced by many different outlying factors. Light is an environmental factor that suppresses the release of the sleep-inducing substance melatonin. This weekend's shift in time means more light in the morning and more darkness in the afternoon and evening. It is essential to expose yourself to light during waking hours.
Be Prepared, Set Your Clocks
Who wants to be woken up by an alarm that's set earlier than it is supposed to? Take advantage of this extra hour of sleep and set your clocks back before bedtime tonight!
It might take a day or two to get used to the time change. However, if you typically struggle with shifts in time, it's best to prepare for it:
Before the time change, try going to bed 15-30 minutes later than usual.
Set your clocks ahead the night before (Saturday, November 5).
Get outside to get some sun exposure on Sunday.
Practice a healthy bedtime routine.
Practicing healthy sleep habits will help you to stay rested and rejuvenated during this busy holiday season.
You don't have to keep putting up with sleepless nights. At FusionSleep®, we have dedicated our entire medical practice to helping patients as young as two years old get their lives back through healthy sleep. We offer various sleep solutions, in-lab and at-home sleep testing options, and virtual appointments on our established telemedicine platform. Contact us today on our website or by calling 678.990.3962.