Allow Your Body to Adjust to Time Change
October 31, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Men's Health
One hour ahead, one hour behind – what difference does an hour make in the spring and fall when we change our clocks? More than it seems, say experts, although the effects may be worse in the spring than in the fall.
“Spring Forward, Fall Back” is a time change that affects millions of people around the world. In the spring, we set the clock ahead an hour, in essence losing an hour, as we try to cheat Mother Nature, and have our day light hours filled with more, well, daylight. In the fall, we try to get that hour back by setting our clocks back an hour, going back to following time as it “should” be.
In the spring, the loss of an hour could mean fatigue and drowsiness the next day, but the effects could last as long as a week or more in some people. In the fall, while it may seem great that we’ve gained an hour for partying or sleeping, this can also affect our sleep patterns. It may only be the next night or a few nights later that this shows up though.
So, if you’re someone who has trouble with time adjustments, here are some tips to help you through the first week (and longer):
- Go to bed your usual time, using your usual routines
- Sleep through that extra hour if you can
- Avoid napping during the day as much as possible
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bed time
- Don’t eat heavy meals close to bed time
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Image: MorgueFile.com
