Wake up, everybody! Don't spring forward. Well, at least not the way that we have done it in the past. To spring means to move forward suddenly or rapidly. Moving with gazelle-like intensity is a good thing if you are running for your life. It is not good for your health when it comes to losing an hour of sleep. Studies have show that there is an increase in heart attacks, injuries and car accidents on the Monday after daylight saving time (DST). DST isn't a new concept, so why do we act surprised every year?
Our circadian rhythm, our internal body clock, is thrown off just like someone bumping a turntable and getting us off beat. Eventually, we sync back up to the music. Instead of off beat dance moves, some people may experience serious issues related to their health.
What can we do to minimize the affects of DST? Choose a few days, 1 week, 2 weeks or more to get adjusted to the time change. Set your alarm 5-10 mins earlier each day and actually get up when your alarm goes off. Don't hit the snooze button. Hitting the snooze button is a whole other talk. Also, start your nighttime routine 5-10 mins earlier as well. Do these simple things for yourself and do it for your family. Avoid the extra stress by implementing these incremental changes and you won't skip a beat when it comes to your sleep.