What Are the Health Effects of Daylight Savings Time?

Twice per year we experience The Change. No not that one, ladies. We’re talking about springing forward and falling backward — better known as Daylight Saving Time, when we lose an hour every spring and gain it back every November (Sunday, Nov. 3 this year). But the time isn't the only thing changing! Daylight Savings can wreak havoc on your circadian rhythm, which can pose a number of issues.

Why Daylight Savings Time Exists

First, let’s back up and talk about why we even have Daylight Savings Time in the first place. We’re not exactly sure who was responsible but most give credit to Englishman William Willett. It was intended to make better use of extra daylight in the summer, save energy at night, and is reportedly responsible for crime rate drops and fewer traffic accidents during the time period. But do the positives outweigh the negatives? It depends on who you ask since it seems to affect people differently. German researchers report that none of us ever really adjust to the change. Currently, 70 countries and most U.S. states participate in some form of daylight saving. So, short of moving to Japan, India, China, Arizona, Hawaii or Puerto Rico, you’re stuck with making the adjustment twice per year.

Common Health Effects of Daylight Savings Time

 

Preparing for Daylight Savings Time

While losing an hour in the spring is often more difficult to adjust to than gaining an hour in the fall, your body still needs time to adapt. Here are five time change tips to prepare for Daylight Savings and help your body transition as your body prepares for a major shift in schedule.

Adjust Your Bedtime

Everybody is different so if you feel you need to think about getting ready for the time change, go to bed and get up 15 mins later than usual, starting about a week before the official date the time will change. This will help your body adjust faster to the hour gain and you won’t feel as sleepy on day one.

Don’t sleep in Sunday morning

The exact time the clock falls back is 2 a.m. on Sunday morning. It’s tempting to sleep in and enjoy the extra hour of sleep but it’s best to resist the temptation. If you own a radio-controlled clock or a cell phone, it’ll automatically switch the time for you overnight. If you have to manually change your clock, do so before going to bed. Your clock will then be set to the correct time and you should plan to get up around the same time you normally would during the week.

Take a power nap

If you follow a fairly consistent schedule normally, you may feel a little tired on Sunday. It’s best to stay active and push through. However, if you feel you just need a quick refreshing nap, early afternoon is best, and make sure you keep it to no longer than 15 minutes. That will give you the quick brain and body rest you need but won’t affect your overall schedule too much.

Give it time

Again, losing an hour is often harder to adjust to than the hour gain we’ll experience this week. However, for some the time change can take up to a week to adjust to. You may feel a bit groggy or sluggish but if you stick to a schedule, your body will get back to normal in no time.

Get extra help, if needed

This is where RestoreZ can really help. If you’re not already taking RestoreZ daily, now is the time to give it a try. RestoreZ will help you in preparing for Daylight Savings with our patent-pending circadian timing blend of natural ingredients. Depending on your need and issue, Fall Asleep, Deep Asleep, Stay Asleep or Power Nap can help.