Fall Back: Small Time Change Has Big Impact
by Sheila McCormick on October 7th, 2009
Loading ...
In a few shorts weeks we will adjust our clocks back an hour and hunker down for the long dark nights of winter. The time change is part of a longstanding tradition in which Americans push their clocks ahead an hour in the spring (“spring forward”) and turn them back an hour in autumn (“fall back”). This year the change officially takes place at 2 a.m. daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 1 (which instantly becomes 1 a.m. standard time).
While one hour may seem like a small adjustment to make, many people find themselves out of kilter during the first couple of weeks after the change back to standard time. Many will have trouble sleeping, concentrating or even getting up in the morning. Earlier sunsets and long, dark evenings can leave you lethargic. You may feel exhausted but unable to sleep when you do get to bed.
It is important to be kind to yourself while your body’s internal biorhythms adjust to the time change. Be sure to get plenty of exercise and eat light, nutritious meals. Bear in mind that your reaction time and mental acuity may vary for the first weeks after the change so be extra careful when driving, especially after dark.
To minimize the impact of the time change maintain your regular bedtime during the weekend of the time change. Block out light and keep your sleeping area dark. Standard time means sunrise will occur about an hour earlier. This can impact sleep, especially for people accustomed to awakening before or around sunrise.
If you have ongoing problems adjusting to the time change and you still have trouble sleeping a couple of weeks after “falling back,” you might want to consider taking melatonin supplements. Sometimes referred to as an “all natural nightcap,” melatonin is a natural body hormone produced by the pineal gland (a pea-sized structure at the center of the brain). Melatonin is believed to regulate the “circadian” rhythms in the body. Many studies have supported the use of melatonin supplements in shortening the time it takes to fall asleep and reducing the number of times a person wakes up during the night.
Talk to your holistic practitioner about other natural ways to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep. There are numerous natural remedies that can help you get the rest your body needs to function at peak performance every single day.
This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.