7 Therapist-backed Tips on How To Adjust To Daylight Savings Time

DST has been practiced in the United States and many European countries since World War I. This was due to making an effort to conserve fuel that was needed to produce electric power. DST was not officially adopted by the United States until March 19, 1918 and helped to establish standard time zones.

Each year, beginning on the second Sunday in March, our clocks are set one hour ahead. On the first Sunday in November, our clocks are set back an hour to standard time. Since the adoption of the practice, there have been ongoing disputes about the continued practice of DST and the implications it may or may not have on potential health and safety concerns, such as effects on mood disorders (like seasonal depression) and the disruption it can cause to our sleep cycle.

It is important that we try to get at least seven hours of sleep the days before and after the time change. The closer we stick to our normal bedtime routine, the quicker our bodies will adjust to the time change.

Limiting caffeine consumption for up to four to six hours before bedtime can be helpful, due to it allowing your body enough time to reach a relaxed state that can make it easier to fall asleep at a reasonable time.

Exercise is a great form of self-care many people use to maintain a healthy balance in their life. However, exercising right before bedtime can make it extremely difficult to fall asleep because exercise raises our body temperatures and makes it hard for us to get comfortable. It is helpful to avoid exercising within four hours of bedtime.

The high-intensity light from electronic screens affect melatonin (a hormone that creates sleepiness), this light stimulates our brain and can make it extremely difficult to fall asleep during our bedtime.

During the days close to the time change, it can be helpful to eat at the same time or even eat a bit earlier, because it helps our body's natural clock get synchronized with the time change.

Our body needs natural sunlight to provide us with valuable nutrients and vitamins that can have a positive impact on our emotional state. You may want to practice going outside in the morning, so that you can get some morning sunlight exposure.

If you are someone who really struggles with adjusting to the time change, it may be useful to adjust your sleep and wake times two to three days before the time change.

At Hope For The Journey, we recognize that life can sometimes be full of challenges and unforeseen events that can sometimes make us feel stuck or impact how we see ourselves and others around us. Our staff of wonderful therapists can help you to overcome your struggles, by helping you develop skills that you can use and apply to your daily life.

Our team is happy to offer a number of services from our Round Rock and Austin therapy offices. Mental health services include therapy for anxiety, depression, domestic violence, sexual assault, PTSD, and EMDR.

Our team also provides support for family members of all ages with counseling for teens and young adults, children and tweens, couples, men, and parents/partners. Contact us today to learn more about our team and community involvement!