Daylight savings time ….. the time-honored tradition of robbing us of an hour of precious sleep. It makes no sense, but what choice do we have?
Why does it feel like we’re time travelers stuck in a perpetual Monday? Hawaii and Arizona clearly have the right idea—maybe it’s time we all relocate to sunnier, clock-watching climates.
But for those of us anchored to our current home, fear not! I am going to give you a plan to succeed and survive daylight savings time with minimal soreness and discomfort.
Let’s get started.
How Daylight Savings Affects Your Health…
Before we get into some strategies, let’s address some of the most common health hazards associated with daylight savings.
To be blunt and to the point, daylight saving time is basically a hijacker of our well-being. And if that is not dramatic enough for you:
- It brings more car accidents, than text messaging teenager
- A cardiovascular risk that rivals a deep fried twinkie
- Disrupted circadian rhythm, because who needs good sleep anyways?
- An impact on mental health turning a sunny day into a dark and gloomy one
But you already know this, don’t you?
Just in case you’re late to the party, here are a few reasons to support my claim. If research studies aren’t your jam, then feel free to scroll down further.
But if you’re a nerd like me and want to know more of the research to back up what I discussed earlier, then here you go!
The Research (All the Nerdy Details)
- Increased motor vehicle accidents.
- A study published in Current Biology in 2020 found that daylight savings time is associated with a 6% increase in motor vehicle accidents the week after spring daylight savings time.
- Source: A Chronobiological Evaluation of the Acute Effects of Daylight Saving Time on Traffic Accident Risk – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Increased risk of cardiovascular events (ie: heart attacks, aneurysms).
- Researchers have found an upward to 29% increase in cardiovascular events following daylight savings.
- Source: Daylight saving time, circadian rhythms, and cardiovascular health | Internal and Emergency Medicine (springer.com)
- Disruption of Circadian Rhythm.
- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine highlights that the abrupt change in the timing of sunlight exposure during daylight saving time can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to difficulties in adjusting sleep-wake cycles. This disruption can contribute to fatigue and mood changes.
- Source: Sleep experts want to stop ‘springing forward’ to daylight saving time (aasm.org)
- Impact on Mental Health.
- A study in the journal “Epidemiology” found a small but significant increase in the rate of depressive episodes following the spring transition to daylight saving time.
- While the study did not specifically focus on women, it suggests a potential link between daylight savings changes and mental health.
- Source: “Daylight Savings Time Transitions and the Incidence Rate of… : Epidemiology (lww.com))
The only thing you will need to conquer the enemy is awareness and a little bit of preplanning. Your Monday morning self will thank you.
Okay, whew. Now that we got all of that negative stuff out of the way, let me give you a plan so you can tackle daylight savings with confidence.
The Ultimate Daylight Savings Survivor Guide
- Turn down the volume of your weekend. In other words, don’t overplan your weekend. No, I’m not suggesting you morph into a sloth (though, tempting). Limit the late nights, ditch the constant business, and cozy up at home. Say no to events and treat yourself to a quiet weekend. Read that book that has been collecting dust by your bedside. Go for a walk on the trail you never make the time to walk on. The key here is to slow down.
- Munch with a purpose. Give your digestive system a break, and lay off the fried, greasy, calorie-packed delights. Stick to foods that treat your body like a VIP, not an afterthought. Your gut will thank you, and so will your waistline.
- Move your body. Get some fresh air and sunlight by going for walks, bike rides, or pretending to enjoy yard work. Weather be damned – embrace the elements; don’t let a rainy day stop you. Focus on getting outside a few times over the weekend. You won’t regret it.
- Choose your companions wisely. Spend time with people who fill your energy tank and crack you up. Stay away from energy vampires. Say no to events that you are not excited about. Life’s too short to hang out with low vibe people and crowds.
- Steer clear of alcohol. Common sense but hard for many of us. This could be a whole blog post on itself so I will be quick and concise. Alcohol and sleep are like oil and water – they don’t mix. Alcohol disrupts our sleep cycles and decreases the quality of our sleep. For more detailed information, I would encourage you to read this article Alcohol and Sleep (sleepfoundation.org or listen to this podcast Effects of Alcohol on The Brain and Body – Huberman Lab
- Set yourself up for the week ahead. Make the week after the time change as stress free as possible. Meal prep, clean the house, do laundry, and maybe squeeze in a catnap. These simple tasks will help to set yourself up for a stress-free transition into the work week.
In Summary: Embrace Daylights Savings with a Warm Hug
So, I may have just crushed your weekend dreams, but I promise you it’s all in the name of good health and will be worth it.
Be selfish, put yourself first, and remember: you’ve got this! And hey, if you’re feeling ambitious, maybe consider starting a healthier morning routine. My 10-20-30-40 routine is an easy and energizing plan to get you started.
Parting Words of Wisdom:
- Keep it simple, like choosing between a latte or cappuccino.
- Have a game plan for the weekend – it’s like plotting your escape from the daylight saving time bandit.
- Love and accept yourself, quirks and all.
Thank you for spending your precious time here. May your week be filled with laughter, sleep, and minimal clock-related stress. Until next week!
