Spring forward, fall back. Ah yes, it’s that time of year again, when we gain an extra hour but lose a whole lot of afternoon sunlight for the next several months. Despite the fact that only about one-fifth of Americans are in support of our current approach of switching back and forth between daylight saving time and standard time throughout the year, we can’t all live in Hawaii or Arizona- the only two states in the US who don’t observe daylight saving time. And despite the fact that 70% of Americans report getting insufficient sleep, with the CDC going so far as to declare insufficient sleep a public health epidemic due to the established links between insufficient sleep and chronic diseases and conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression, daylight savings is still fast approaching.
So what are we to do? Accept that we will forever be chronically tired and send our circadian rhythms into a tailspin twice a year? How can we best prepare for the upcoming sleep disruption?
Preparation is Key
Just like most things in life, preparation is key. Making small changes to your sleeping routine in the weeks leading up to daylight savings will help ease the transition. Going to bed and waking up just 10 minutes earlier every 2-3 days in the preceding weeks will help your body adjust so the time change won’t be so jarring.
Optimize your Environment
Now is an excellent time to optimize your sleep environment. With dropping temperatures this time of year, it may be time to pull your duvet out of the linen closet and adjust your heat settings. Need to refresh your memory on what your optimal sleep environment should entail? We’ve got you covered.
Maximize your Mornings
Open the shades and let the light in! Exposure to light in the morning will help regulate your “body clock” so you can adjust faster. And why not get some physical activity first thing in the morning? Take the dog for a walk around the neighborhood and strap your little ones in the stroller – you know they are not going to let you sleep in any way!
And if you’re looking for a way to hold yourself accountable to aiming for better sleep, sign up for the 30-day Sleep Well Cycle on the Vitality Today app and earn up to 300 Vitality Points for achieving eight hours of uninterrupted sleep at least 20 of the 30 nights!
Lianne E. Jacobs, MPH, Health Communications Strategist, has a master’s degree in public health from Yale University. She is the only indoor cycling instructor who can’t ride a bike. She enjoys traveling the world, laughing at her own jokes, changing diapers, and tricking her husband into eating baked goods made with hidden vegetables.
