Daylight Saving Sleep Tips

Many Americans found themselves staring at the clock thinking, “It feels more like 5 am than 6 am!” When Daylight Saving Time sprung us forward one hour, it did more than just cause an increase in grogginess. Experts say when we lose that precious hour of sleep, episodes of heart attacks rise and car accidents increase too. This can be due to the fact that Americans are already sleep deprived and the disruption in normal sleeping habits can lead to health concerns and accidents. Here are some reminders and some new tips to how you can ease the effects of Daylight Saving.

Gradually Transition

The big leap forward can leave us restless at night. Try to minimize the impact of that lost hour and make gradual adjustments to your bed time. Try going to bed 15-30 minutes earlier than you normally do. This will help trick your body thinking it’s the normal time you go to sleep.

The Power of the Power Nap

Find yourself fatigued during the day? Try the most obvious solution and take a nap! By taking a nap you’re able to rest your system, get a burst of alertness and increase motor performance. The length of the nap can make all the difference too. The 20 minute power nap helps with alertness and motor learning skills. 30 to 60 minute naps are good for decision-making skills, like memorizing vocabulary or recalling directions. 60 to 90 minutes of napping can help make new connections in the brain and solve creative problems.

Commit to a Routine

Adequate sleep is a must if you want to avoid grogginess the next day. This means committing to 7-8 hours of sleep, keeping regular sleep hours, limiting screen time before bed, and creating a sleep sanctuary. What do we mean by sleep sanctuary? Create a place that you want to fall asleep in. Buy those fluffy pillows and blankets, decorate using calming colors. Do or buy whatever to make a space you feel comfortable, and most importantly dedicate this space for sleep only. That means no working from bed or watching Netflix.

Despite the reason for your drowsiness, whether it be Daylight Saving, work or the kids, it can never hurt to brush up on some helpful sleep tips. Try transitioning from Daylight Saving and start to commit to a sleep routine and remember a cat nap here or there is nothing to be ashamed of.