5 Easy Ways To Adjust To Daylight Savings Time

It can be very difficult adjusting to Daylight Savings Time every year at this time, but there are ways to help your body cope.

Not everyone has a difficult time adjusting to the change in time in the spring and fall. According to an article written by Catherine Boeckmann on Almanac.com some folks just feel a little tired and maybe a little more grouchy than normal. Other people experience serious health affects with even a one-hour time change, especially if they have underlying medical issues.

Per another article by Catherine Boeckmann on Almanac.com, recent studies point to the fact 60-70% of Americans dislike the time changes we go through twice a year, and would prefer we discontinue the practice. In fact, in 2022 the U.S. Senate passed a bill to make Daylight Savings Time permanent. But it failed to pass in the House of Representatives. At the present time, only Arizona and Hawaii observe Standard Time all year.

Furthermore, according to an article by Catherine Allen on NBCNews.com, life gets more dangerous after the "spring forward" time change. Her article states that the latest research shows "workplace injuries, car crash deaths, and heart attack risk have all increased."

Like many Americans, I am under the impression that Daylight Savings Time helps farmers. But according to Boeckmann's article, the truth is that the law was introduced during World War I. Then it was repealed. The law was introduced again during World War II, and repealed again. Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson makes the law permanent. We now know it as the Uniform Time Act, which is still in effect today. However, states may opt out of this law if they choose.

More and more states are voting to eliminate the twice-yearly time changes. Hopefully, Nevada joins that movement, but our legislature has not jumped on that bandwagon yet.

So, in the meantime, what can one do to help one's body adjust to these time changes? Here are five common-sense practices which Carole Boeckmann recommends on Almanac.com.

Updated March 5, 2024

Don't try to stay up later to help your body adjust. If you keep to your normal bedtime and wake-up routines, your body should adjust in about a week. Those who have difficulty with the time changes should plan on making incremental 10-20 minute adjustments in your sleep and awake times a week prior to Daylight Savings Time starting.

It is always a good practice to avoid caffeine and/or alcohol in the hours before your normal bedtime. It's best to avoid strenuous exercise during those hours before bedtime too. And bringing your smartphone to bed is a poor health practice as it makes falling asleep much more difficult.

We've all done it at one time or another, and then wished we hadn't. Eating a big meal, or lots of carbs, before bedtime makes it very difficult to fall asleep. Keep your mealtimes consistent when approaching the time changes. Like to snack before you hit the rack? Eat snacks high in protein instead of those which are high in carbohydrates.

Get outdoors and get more sunlight. Take a walk, hike, run, or bike ride to help your body adjust to the time changes. Of course, it's always a good idea to use sunscreen if you're going to be outdoors in the super hot Las Vegas sun for more than 15 minutes. But sunshine is very important to all humans. It also provides vitamin D, which is important to help you fight disease.

This is one piece of advice I have never been able to use in my life. Taking catnaps. I just can't fall asleep in the middle of the day for 15-30 minutes. I can shut my eyes that long, but I won't sleep. Not sure if just shutting your eyes helps. But, if you are able to take a quick nap, do it! However, don't take long naps. It will negatively affect your nighttime sleeping pattern.