It’s that time of year again where we are changing our clocks for Daylight Saving. This weekend, you’ll want to make sure you’re moving them back one hour. While changing our clocks is something we do each year, it can sometimes take a toll on our bodies and sleep schedules. Brenda Rotert, the sleep lab coordinator at Avera McKennan has some tips to help you stay on track.
How can daylight saving time affect your sleep schedule?
The little shift in those daylight hours really affects your circadian rhythm and the normal rhythm that your body is in, trying to sleep in the dark and stay awake in the light.
How long could it take to get used to the time change?
It depends on how prepared you are for it. Some people can get turned around real quick, but if you kind of go into the daylight saving time with a half empty tank and your sleep hygiene isn’t great and you’re kind of behind anyway it might take you a little longer to get into the rhythm of things.
How do you prepare your kids?
The big thing is turning the electronics off a little earlier at night. Your body naturally starts melatonin production when it starts getting darker, so the more you are glued to the TV or device before you go to bed, the more engaged your brain is, the slower it takes for the melatonin to get going and it’s just harder to get to sleep. It’s harder to wake up because you’re up a little later. So just get them prepared, practice good hygiene, a lot of kids like a routine before bed, a bath, read a book, that kind of stuff to get them mentally prepared that it’s about bed time. Then of course show them a little grace, we’re crabby and groggy and all that as adults trying to get used to daylight saving time, so it’s hard for kids, too, to get used to the change.
