It’s time for the U.S. to change from Day Light Savings Time to Standard Savings Time. This is often referred to as ‘Fall Back’ or gaining an ‘extra hour of sleep.” Many advocate for stopping the time change process altogether. Hawaii and Arizona are the only 2 states that do not change times.
But until the U.S changes the policy, many experts and wellness professionals emphasize that both time change events can have significant consequences to well-being. Our circadian rhythms are impacted, whether we lose or gain an hour. Most of us take a week or more to adjust to the change. But it is not just sleep that is impacted, the time changes also,
- Affect our metabolism
- Can trigger headaches
- Result in more fatal accidents during the week
- May increase the risk of heart related events
- More safety related events
How to counter the health risks besides adjusting sleep times leading up to the change? Here are a few strategies,
- Take a few minutes to walk outside and soak up early morning sunlight. Natural light first thing in the morning can reset our internal clocks.
- Increase your intake of protein at breakfast. For example, have yogurt, eggs, or peanut/almond butter and limit sugary cereals.
- Avoid naps for a week or so. Even though you may be tired, experts advise that napping can cause further sleep imbalances.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol several hours before bed since both can interfere with sleep.
Looking for other well-being tips? Read the blog coming soon.
Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay