Saturday night, while we are all asleep, little elves are going to turn time forward an hour ahead in an attempt to attack our internal clocks. I fear for the safety of society in these dark times. It is the “clock-pocalypse,” or also better known as Daylight Savings (happening on Saturday, March 12, at 2 a.m.). But don’t panic! Here are a few tips which can help you survive:
Reclaim your sleep
Probably the most disruptive thing about Daylight Savings is losing that precious hour of sleep. But good news, there are some techniques to help gain back the recommended amount of shut eye:
Adjust your eating schedule
Many people have adjusted their eating habits to their daily schedule. However, our internal eating schedule often aligns with those for sleeping. And when you wake up sooner because you go to bed sooner, your eating schedule can be thrown in a spin. To help, schedule your meals earlier or prepare healthy snacks that will sustain you through the calamitous time transition.
Go back to the future… before you sleep
Rather than leaving your watches, wall clocks, alarms, and even car chronometers an hour late and pretending that the time change never happened, (as most of us wish we to do) change it all to the new time before you go to sleep. It may seem trivial, but when you wake up, you’ll be all set and ready to take on the new future. It’s possibly the most helpful way to adjust.
Join other survivors
Even if you follow all these tips or completely forget, one of the best things to do is to simply setup lunch plans for Sunday, or call a friend the day after. Not only does social confirmation of the new time help you, but it can also help others who might have forgot.
Regardless, don’t get left behind, stay ahead and stay alive until the clock gods grant us our hour back later in the fall. Good luck out there!
Orion Ellis
Communications Intern
Community Medical Centers
Resources:
Reclaim your sleep
Probably the most disruptive thing about Daylight Savings is losing that precious hour of sleep. But good news, there are some techniques to help gain back the recommended amount of shut eye:
- Go to sleep 10 minutes earlier every day for a week before the time change. This can seamlessly prepare your body to the drastic sleep loss of an hour. However, this assumes that you’ve been prepping for the “clock-pocalypse” a week in advance.
- If you’re just trying to sleep earlier, refrain from watching TV or using electronic devices. Reducing light and brain stimuli, such as TV, your phone, or social media, before bed can help the melatonin in your brain to give a more restful sleep.\
- If you’re having trouble sleeping, try reading, taking a relaxing shower, or listening to calming music.
Adjust your eating schedule
Many people have adjusted their eating habits to their daily schedule. However, our internal eating schedule often aligns with those for sleeping. And when you wake up sooner because you go to bed sooner, your eating schedule can be thrown in a spin. To help, schedule your meals earlier or prepare healthy snacks that will sustain you through the calamitous time transition.
Go back to the future… before you sleep
Rather than leaving your watches, wall clocks, alarms, and even car chronometers an hour late and pretending that the time change never happened, (as most of us wish we to do) change it all to the new time before you go to sleep. It may seem trivial, but when you wake up, you’ll be all set and ready to take on the new future. It’s possibly the most helpful way to adjust.
Join other survivors
Even if you follow all these tips or completely forget, one of the best things to do is to simply setup lunch plans for Sunday, or call a friend the day after. Not only does social confirmation of the new time help you, but it can also help others who might have forgot.
Regardless, don’t get left behind, stay ahead and stay alive until the clock gods grant us our hour back later in the fall. Good luck out there!
Orion Ellis
Communications Intern
Community Medical Centers
Resources:
