5 Tricks for Saving Your Sleep (and Sanity) at the End of Daylight Saving Time
Don't forget to set back your clocks today.
— -- intro:It’s true, you can’t run from this. The end of Daylight Saving time is coming on November 1. Are you ready?
Sure, you could just flee to non-complying realms like Arizona (or Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or American Samoa… all of which sound pretty compelling this time of year, actually). But if you live in the rest of the U.S. and its territories, you’re going to have to “fall back” an hour like everyone else.
No one looks forward to the time change (which is why we pulled out the very appropriate and hilarious Nacho Punch spoof, above), but there are ways to make it less of a hassle.Here’s what you need to know to get with the program, stress-free.
22 Strange Ways the Sun May Affect Your Body
quicklist: 1category: 5 Tricks for Saving Your Sleep (and Sanity) at the End of Daylight Saving Timetitle: Enjoy that extra hour of daylight…url:text:
If your typical wake up time is 8am, on Sunday, November 1, you’ll be up at 7am, which means you score an extra hour of light in the morning.Now’s the perfect time to sneak in a walk or run, which can give your mood and energy a boost. The time change is also a great opportunity to lock in your morning exercise routine for the rest of the year, since working out in the afternoon will get tougher as the days get shorter with winter.
quicklist: 2category: 5 Tricks for Saving Your Sleep (and Sanity) at the End of Daylight Saving Timetitle: …Or the extra hour of sleepurl:text:
If you’re too tired to get up on Sunday, it could indicate you’re sleep deprived (like so many of us are), so go ahead and take advantage of the extra hour to sleep in, suggests sleep specialist and clinical psychologist Michael Breus, PhD. Later that night, just be sure to get to bed at least an hour earlier than the clock says, so you don’t fall deeper into sleep deficit.
quicklist: 3category: 5 Tricks for Saving Your Sleep (and Sanity) at the End of Daylight Saving Timetitle: Get the kids on trackurl:text:
Children can have a harder time making the adjustment, but getting them acclimated can be a breeze. Starting a week before the time change, Breus recommends putting kids to bed 15 minutes later than usual, every other night. By the time October 31 rolls around, they’ll be used to going to bed an hour later, and if all goes well, waking up later in the morning. (Bonus: kids will want to be up an hour later on Halloween anyway, so here’s a ready-made occasion to indulge.)
Once you turn the clocks back on November 1, they’ll be back on schedule.
10 Alarm Clocks for Heavy Sleepers
quicklist: 4category: 5 Tricks for Saving Your Sleep (and Sanity) at the End of Daylight Saving Timetitle: Spruce up your sleep hygieneurl:text:
Anytime you focus on sleep is a good opportunity to freshen up your sleep habits. That means keeping your bedroom dark, cool, and quiet, banishing electronics, cutting off caffeine in the afternoon, and keeping a consistent bedtime all year long.
10 Beauty Tricks for Daylight Saving Time
quicklist: 5category: 5 Tricks for Saving Your Sleep (and Sanity) at the End of Daylight Saving Timetitle: And duh, remember to set your clocks backurl:text:
Before you go to sleep on the night of Saturday, October 31, simply turn your clocks back an hour. Good news is, there’s no need to fiddle with smartphones: they’ll update on their own at the official time change, 2am. This way, you avoid that Monday morning panic of walking into work an hour early. (Oy!)