Saving Daylight: Make It Work For You

I have a love/don’t love relationship with change. I love the changing of seasons, I love changing into my birthday suit after any period of time in clothes, and I love changing the scent of my body oil on the regular. What I don’t love is changing the clocks forward one hour every March. It’s something that’s happened every single year I’ve been on this planet and by the looks of it, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. And because that’s something I can’t change, I’m not gonna cry about it. 

What’s with people whining about Daylight Saving Time (DST)? Every… single… year! people go on and on about how annoying it is and quite frankly they don’t shut up about it. You know it’s coming, you know you’re gonna be cranky about it… Why waste your time and energy bitching and complaining when you can actually do something to make it less painful?

All of my bitchiness aside, we’re about to spring forward and it’s important to acknowledge how this transition impacts our daily lives and our physical and mental health. It’s possible to make the transition less painful, but before we get into that, let's understand DST a little more. 

Daylight Saving Time (Saving, not SavingS) was introduced as a means to make better use of daylight during the longer days of spring and summer. The idea is to adjust our clocks forward by one hour in the spring, allowing for more daylight in the evenings. There’s a complex history, but the fact remains: it happens every year… get over it! 

There’s no denying the impact on our health and wellness. It affects sleep patterns, mental health, physical well-being, and even productivity. One of the most significant impacts is the disruption of our internal body clock, also known as our circadian rhythms. The abrupt change in time can lead to a misalignment between our biological clock and our calendrical structures, resulting in something known as social jet lag. This can cause fatigue, irritability, and difficulties concentrating, similar to the effects of jet lag from traveling across time zones. Research found that moving our clocks an hour ahead increased the risk of heart attack due to the stress it places on the body's internal clock.

Changing our clocks in the spring has also been shown to affect productivity and safety. Studies have shown that the shift to DST is associated with an increase in workplace accidents and injuries due to sleep deprivation and fatigue. There is even evidence that suggests the loss of sleep from DST transitions can impair cognitive function, leading to decreased productivity and efficiency.

As horrible as it is, DST is a thing and it’ll continue happening on the second Sunday of March until the end of time—at least for now. So we have two choices: be miserable about this thing we can’t change, OR be proactive and prepare ourselves physically and mentally for this annual event that happens like clockwork (see what I did there?). Here are three simple things you can do to make the adjustment less painful:

Make Gradual Adjustments
Start by gradually adjusting your sleep schedule two weeks leading up to the time change. Waking up 10 minutes earlier and increasing that by 10 minutes every 3-4 days can help your body ease into the new schedule. Keep increasing until you reach your desired wake-up time.

Create a Bedtime Ritual
A relaxing bedtime routine will help train your body to wind down at a certain time, especially when followed consistently and at the same time each day… yes, even on weekends. Consider creating a routine with activities like taking a warm bath, practicing deep breathing, or meditating before bed. You might also consider incorporating soothing sleep music to calm your mind and prepare for restful sleep.

Embrace The Morning Sun
Spend time outdoors, particularly in the morning, to expose yourself to natural light. Natural light helps regulate your body's internal clock, promoting better sleep at night. Incorporating this exposure into your morning routine can help synchronize your body with the changing daylight hours.

In addition to these tips, consider creating a daily morning routine to support your overall well-being. Whether it's movement, meditation, or journaling, the way you start your day can be grounding, especially during times of change. Also remember to honour your body’s needs by prioritizing self-care as you prepare for the upcoming time change. 

Looking for a structured morning routine? ARISE, my morning wellness program is designed to help you start your day with a full cup. Using journaling, movement, and contemplation, we physically and mentally prepare ourselves for the day, and through meditation and self-inquiry we connect to a deeper part of ourselves. With a focus on wholistic health and spiritual practices, ARISE offers tools and resources to empower you to thrive in mind, body, and spirit. Click here for details.