Don't Lose Sleep Over the End of Daylight Saving: Tips for a Smooth Adjustment

Daylight saving time is over, but your sleep doesn't have to suffer! Learn how to adapt and maintain your sleep quality this winter.

Highlights:

Maintaining your usual sleep schedule, even during daylight saving shifts, helps keep your circadian rhythm stable
Good sleep hygiene, like avoiding caffeine and keeping a cool, dark bedroom, can improve sleep quality during the winter months
Light exposure during the day and a calming bedtime routine are key to adjusting to shorter daylight hours and time changes

Daylight saving time has ended in America. However, adjusting to a time shift is not always straightforward.

Does the End of Daylight Saving Affect Health?

According to research, turning the clock back an hour alters circadian rhythms and can be harmful to sleep and overall health (). Many professional groups, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Medical Association, are opposed to changing the clocks in March and November for this reason ()().

Is Daylight Saving Time Good or Bad for Health?
The onset of daylight saving time (DST), commonly known as summer time, can affect your overall health and lead to unhealthy lifestyle habits.

‘Did You Know?
Turning the clock back an hour can disrupt your circadian rhythm just like jet lag! That's why many experts want to end daylight saving time for good. #sleeptips #daylightsaving #medindia’

The majority of Americans also favor stopping seasonal time adjustments. Research has linked the "fall back" time change to less sleep the following week ().

"Americans loathe clock changes. It is disruptive. Rebecca Robbins, PhD, a sleep scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, stated, "Believe it or not, one hour makes a big difference."

Tips to Make the Daylight Saving Transition Easier

Maintain Your Normal Sleep Schedule

To prepare for the time change, stick to your regular sleep routine. "The most common mistake is staying up an extra hour on Saturday night. The ideal scenario is to fall asleep as near to your typical sleep hour as feasible. If you generally go asleep at 11 p.m., keep to that schedule," Robbins said.

Daylight Saving Time Shows Minimal Effect on Cardiovascular Well-being
There was a statistically slight increase in the rates of cardiovascular events observed on both Monday and Friday following the spring DST transition.

On Sunday morning, fight the impulse to sleep in for more than an hour. Sleeping in for more than an hour can give your body the impression that you jumped on an aircraft and traveled across time zones, she said. This can throw off your body's natural circadian cycle for a few days ().

"Either get up at your typical time; if that's 7 a.m., it will be 6 a.m. on Sunday due to the time change. If you want to get a little more sleep, set your alarm clock to 6:30 a.m. to allow for an extra 30 minutes," she said.

Beware of the Dangers of Drowsy Driving as Daylight Saving Time Begins
Daylight saving time change can enhance driver fatigue, drowsy driving. Hence, a new study reminds the drivers to adjust not only their clocks but also their sleeping habits, to avoid drowsy driving.

Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene During the Winter Season

As the weather becomes colder and darker, some individuals may experience difficulty sleeping. Consider attempting to create strong sleep hygiene techniques that you can apply even after adjusting to the time shift. "This is a great time to just draw a little bit more attention to your sleep routine and your sleep behaviors as you approach bedtime," said Robbins. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon, don't eat too close to bedtime, and keep your bedroom quiet, dark, and cool ().

Getting adequate physical activity can also help you sleep better, but you may need to be inventive while exercising in the cold. Consider indoor exercises such as walking up and down stairs or taking an online fitness class (). If feasible, try to receive some sunlight during the day to help keep your sleep-wake cycle stable ().

Clocks Forward, Health Backward: Daylight Saving Time's Health Disruption
Daylight saving time alters snack consumption and gym visits negatively, warns new research. Adjusting habits post-change is crucial for health maintenance.

You can use the shorter days to establish a soothing bedtime routine by incorporating a few habits- such as reading a book or taking a bath- at the end of the day (). "We really do need to take time and give ourselves space to switch into a fundamentally different mindset at night, which is all about rest and relaxation," said Robbins.

References:

Improving adjustment to daylight saving time transitions with light - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-65705-x)
Daylight saving time: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement - (https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.8780)
AMA calls for permanent standard time - (https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-calls-permanent-standard-time)
Daylight Saving Time "fall back" doesn’t equal sleep gain - (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/daylight-saving-time-fall-back-doesnt-equal-sleep-gain-201311012514)
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders - (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain-spinal-cord-and-nerve-disorders/sleep-disorders/circadian-rhythm-sleep-disorders)
Healthy Sleep Habits - (https://sleepeducation.org/healthy-sleep/healthy-sleep-habits/)
6 Tips to Stay Active This Winter - (https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity/features/stay-active-this-winter.html)
Circadian Rhythm Disorders - (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/circadian-rhythm-disorders/treatment)

Source-Medindia