Sunday.
November 4.
2 AM.
The Clocks roll back an hour.
Sure, that extra hour when Daylight Saving Time ends is nice, but it still messes up your sleep cycle, causing that jet lagged feeling on Monday morning without the benefit of a nice vacation. Dealing with time change without going anywhere is . . . not fun.
Here are three tips to make the time change adjustment a little easier:
1. Keep your sleeping pattern – On the bright side, “Fall Back” is a lot easier on our bodies than “Spring Forward,” so there’s that. Waking up on Sunday, November 4 won’t feel so bad, but you may notice the struggle starts when it’s time to go back to sleep on Sunday night. Even though it may feel like you’re going to bed an hour earlier, do your best to stick with your normal bedtime to make Monday morning a bit easier.
2. Ditch the tech devices once you’re in bed – If you’re struggling to fall asleep on Sunday night, the temptation to reach for your phone and scroll through social media or cruise through Netflix looking for something to watch while you fall asleep may be strong. Deny that temptation! The blue light from screens actually confuses your body even more, and then you that struggle to fall asleep becomes dang near impossible.
3. Say “NO” to naps – A nap may seem like a stellar idea when your body clock gets out of sync, but naps are a no-go when dealing with time change. Naps can lower the quality of sleep you should be getting later that night.
Bonus Tip. Up your water intake – Dehydration can make us feel lethargic, groggy and cranky as is. Through in the time change and the dehydration will really wreak havoc on your body. Drink water as soon as you wake up, continuing throughout the day, and drink plenty more before you go to sleep. Remember, if you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.
