Daylight Savings Time is in full swing, yet many of us are struggling with the adjustment. It can be difficult to give up one hour sleep and still perform our best. Try these tips to get through the rest of your week and to maximize your sleep potential:
Sleep when you are sleepy: Don’t force yourself to go to bed an hour early. It’s easier to get to sleep when your body is ready and you’ll get a higher quality of shut-eye.
Don’t trick your body during DST: Stick to your normal wake-up time even after the clock has changed. Sleeping in to make up the lost hour is only going to make the transition worse.
Say good morning to the sun: Soak up as much sunlight is possible as soon as you wake up. It’ll help awaken your brain and naturally adjust your body clock for sleep at night.
Get moving: You don’t have to commit to exercise even though it helps, just make the effort to move around the house or work throughout the day.
Resist the urge to nap: Don’t shake up your routine with a nap late in the afternoon. It can create a harmful effect that will prevent you from sleeping at your appropriate bedtime.
Embracing winding down for sleep: Establishing a calming bedtime routine can be a perfect signal to your body to start getting sleepy. Turn down the lights, take a warm bath, meditate or read a book (not on your e-reader).
Throughout our lives, there are a number of events that interfere with our sleep routine that are beyond our control. It’s important to stick as close to your normal schedule as you possibly can. Get 7-9 hours of sleep every night and remember that catch up sleep can only help you to a certain extent!
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