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5 tips to an easier daylight savings transition!
5 tips to an easier daylight savings transition!
Happy S P R I N G time friends! The time of year most of us look forward to, where our days get longer and the weather gets warmer! The hardest part of welcoming the spring season, however? Losing an hour of precious sleep of course! For many of us, the adjustment to daylight savings can be challenging especially while juggling work or school. In today's blog post, I'll be sharing my top 5 tips for an easier daylight savings transition.
The quicker we get used to daylight savings, the quicker we can take advantage of the changing weather! Whether you decide to spend your longer days outdoors or reading a book in your backyard, this post will help you transition through the rough patches and get you outdoor quicker!
Start your bedtime routine earlier
Starting a few days - or even one week - before daylight savings, start going to bed early. By starting your routine just 15 minutes earlier than normal, you can help ease your body into settling down. Then, if you really want to be an A+ student, set your clock forward SATURDAY morning instead of Sunday! Then you're not stumbling around on Sunday and are left feeling drained on Monday once you go back to work/school.
Obviously, daylight savings has already begun so if you're still finding that it's taking you a while to fall asleep, here are some of my go-to recommendations:
- Move your bedtime up - I know, I know. I already mentioned this. But moving your bedtime up can help ensure you get a full nights rest. Especially if you feel like you're still struggling to wake up in the morning!
- Use a calming app - I love the Calm app. Whether you prefer music/ sounds, meditation, or bedtime stories, the Calm app can be personalized according to your liking!
- Essential oils are my favorite way to fall asleep. You can find essential oil diffusers on Amazon and my favorite oils are Lavender and Eucalyptus - all known for their calming and distressing properties! If you don't have a diffuser, place a drop of oil on your temples and wrists before going to bed.
Stick to a regular schedule
By staying consistent with a regular schedule, it allows regularity in your sleep cycle. Try waking up and going to bed at the same time each morning and night. Sleeping in may give you the notion of deep rest, but it leads to a harder time falling asleep later at night. If you feel like naps also mess up your sleep cycle, avoid taking one and focus on getting to bed at a timely manner. There are a ton of apps you can download on your phone to help determine the best rise time, what time to go to bed to get a certain amount of sleep AND these apps can even track your sleep pattern during the night to help you figure out important aspects of your cycle.
This tip applies even if you're still struggling with the time change now! Set a regular time to wake up and try to stick to it! This will allow your body to accustom to the new change.
Get moving!
Natural movement and exercise not only helps us stay healthy, but can be a huge help in sleeping better. Even if it's just going on a leisurely walk, the movement will help your body relax. Bonus points if you can do so while there's natural sunlight available! Make sure to give your body time to cool down a few hours before going to bed and a shower/bath is also a helpful relaxing tip.
Avoid coffee
Caffeine is great... if you're trying to jolt your body awake! During a time like daylight savings though, it can hinder your body's ability to wind down and relax. If you can't live without a cup of joe (don't worry, I'm right there with you!), just make sure to space out when you're drinking your coffee - at least 4-6 hours before you go to bed. Whatever you do... just don't drink coffee late at night!
Turn off your devices!
Research has proven that our electronic devices contain high-intensity light that stimulates our brain. This hinders our natural brain chemical, melatonin, which triggers sleepiness. Make sure to turn off/put away all devices at least 30 minutes before going to bed. This includes working on a laptop right before bed, watching TV too late, or mindlessly scrolling through your phone!
I hope you learned something new to incorporate into your routine - is there something else that YOU use and find helpful? Make sure to let us know below! As always, don't forget to catch up on our latest blog post HERE!
Happy spring!
Basma
By Basma Adams