This Sunday, people around the world will set their clocks back an hour due to Daylight Saving Time. While we're gaining an extra hour of sleep (yes!) there's also the increased chance of car accidents, sleep deprivation, and even changes in shopping habits because of the time change. Here are some tips to help you adapt to the time change with ease.
Tip 1: Avoid napping.
While we're gaining an hour of sleep (which again, is amazing) it will get darker sooner. This affects our energy levels because we naturally associate night time with minimizing tasks, that leads us to wind down and fall asleep. Instead of giving into a little shut eye, go for a walk to up your endorphins. If you absolutely feel like you need to take a nap keep it less than 20 minutes - any longer will leave you feeling groggy and mess with your sleeping habits.
Tip 2: Exercise in the morning.
We have an extra hour in the morning, there are no excuses anymore. But really, exercising in the morning increases energy that will last you throughout the day. Avoiding exercising two hours before you go to bed, that energy boost will interfere with your quality of sleep.
Tip 3: Try going to bed 15 minutes earlier two or three days before the time change.
Just because we'll have an extra hour doesn't mean you should stay up during that time, instead go to bed early. This will help you get your eight hours in and produce a sleep pattern that'll help you fall asleep faster.
Tip 4: Don't drink anything with caffeine or alcohol before bed.
While a cup of coffee or beer sounds good when you're on the couch scrolling through Netflix, it's not.
Tip 5: Have a bedtime ritual.
Keep the lights off an hour before you go to sleep. Turn off your phone, laptop, tablets, and read a boring book. This will help you relax earlier to your bedtime, and make the mornings easier.