Did you remember to spring forward over the weekend?
Daylight Saving Time began on Sunday, March 8, 2015. Surely, as alarm clocks sounded off an hour earlier Monday morning people rush to hit the snooze button. Extra minutes in bed are simply priceless.
Daylight Saving Time originally was a solution to preserve energy. During wartime, there was a need for people to burn less candles, coal, and petroleum because wars need those extra resources. More sunlight meant less energy consumption. Today, there is debate whether that notion is still true (Lahart, 2008).
Is Daylight Saving Time still necessary? Some say no. There are claims changing the clock twice a year interrupts a person’s circadian cycle and is harmful (Welsh & Havey, 2014). Others have suggested it is causes a spike in heart attack and car accidents (Welsh & Havey, 2014). The research remains fuzzy on these claims.
For now, if you live in an area that practices Daylight Saving Time, then it is best to adopt a strategy to deal with the time adjustments. Below are a few tips:
Get in bed early
We know you don’t want to go to bed early. You have to see the latest episode of the Walking Dead. Instead of forcing yourself to sleep, lie down in bed and get comfortable so you can gradually drift off to sleep. You will thank yourself in the morning when it is time for work.
Turn off electronics
Smartphones. Laptops. Tablets. Turn them off and/or place them on silent. Make sure you are not exposed to their bright lights. LED-backlit screens can illuminate the room and make it even harder for your body to adjust to the time.
Don’t eat, drink or exercise late
Don’t hit the gym late. Exercise increases your heart rate and “wakes your body ” not slow it down. Make sure you eat dinner and sip on drinks a bit earlier as well. You want your body to settle down when it is time to lay down.
Would you like to share a tip to survive Daylight Saving Time? Let us know in the comments.
* Disclaimer: These are just tips. Always seek a medical professional for advice*
Photo credit: Nicholas Tarling | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Citation:
Lahart, J. (2008, February 27). Daylight Saving Wastes Energy,
Study Says. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/
SB120406767043794825
Welsh, J., & Harvey, C. (2014, October 31). Daylight Saving
Is Bad For Your Health. Retrieved from
http://www.businessinsider.com/health-effects-of-daylight
-saving-time-2014-10