4 ways to help your body adjust to Daylight saving time

Daylight saving time will begin this Sunday

Daylight saving time will begin this Sunday

4 ways to help your body adjust to Daylight saving time

Daylight saving time will begin this Sunday

Daylight saving time kicks off this weekend, and you know what that means - we're all about to lose an hour of sleep. A 2014 study showed that daylight saving time resulted in "life satisfaction" deterioration for up to a full week. A similar 2007 study concluded that the loss of just one hour of sleep disrupted human circadian clocks. "Certainly ‘losing’ an hour of sleep can affect your circadian rhythm," wellness expert Jim Garfield told us Thursday. "You might not feel as sharp cognitively or your workouts or physical labor might seem more challenging." Garfield leads health consulting company Scout Wellness and is a former adventure racing athlete and Red Bull's first American competitor. He provided us with some tips on how to adjust to daylight saving time. 1. Make small adjustments to your schedule "By adjusting your sleep schedule before March 12, waking 15 min earlier the week before and 30 min two days before will be helpful," Garfield explained. "Moving your bed time 30 min earlier will also help decrease the affect." 2. Have a nighttime routine Prepare your body for sleep by engaging in a few relaxing activities before hitting the hay. Turn off your television, computer and smartphone. The light and stimulation from electronic devices can disrupt sleep. Instead, read for a few minutes or write in a journal. Dim the lights and set your thermostat to between 65 degrees Fahrenheit, the best sleep-friendly temperature, according to the National Sleep Foundation. 3. Avoid long naps Keep naps short (between 20-30 minutes) to avoid disrupting your sleep schedule. 4. Get some natural sunlight "The body is most affected by light," Garfield said. "Exercise also will help minimize the effects of the change, particularly if you exercise outdoors and can get extra sunlight exposure, it will help you reset your clock." Sunlight helps regulate your body's internal clock. In the morning, natural light tells your brain that it's time to wake up, and it also helps you sleep more soundly at night. Research shows that people who are deprived of sunlight for long periods of time experience major disruptions in their sleep, temperature and hormone cycles. This can lead to depression, anxiety and weight gain.

Daylight saving time kicks off this weekend, and you know what that means - we're all about to lose an hour of sleep.

showed that daylight saving time resulted in "life satisfaction" deterioration for up to a full week. A concluded that the loss of just one hour of sleep disrupted human circadian clocks.

"Certainly ‘losing’ an hour of sleep can affect your circadian rhythm," wellness expert Jim Garfield told us Thursday. "You might not feel as sharp cognitively or your workouts or physical labor might seem more challenging."

Garfield leads health consulting company Scout Wellness and is a former adventure racing athlete and Red Bull's first American competitor. He provided us with some tips on how to adjust to daylight saving time.

1. Make small adjustments to your schedule

"By adjusting your sleep schedule before March 12, waking 15 min earlier the week before and 30 min two days before will be helpful," Garfield explained. "Moving your bed time 30 min earlier will also help decrease the affect."

2. Have a nighttime routine

Prepare your body for sleep by engaging in a few relaxing activities before hitting the hay. Turn off your television, computer and smartphone. The light and stimulation from electronic devices can disrupt sleep. Instead, read for a few minutes or write in a journal. Dim the lights and set your thermostat to between , the best sleep-friendly temperature, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

3. Avoid long naps

(between 20-30 minutes) to avoid disrupting your sleep schedule.

4. Get some natural sunlight

"The body is most affected by light," Garfield said. "Exercise also will help minimize the effects of the change, particularly if you exercise outdoors and can get extra sunlight exposure, it will help you reset your clock."

Sunlight helps regulate your body's internal clock. In the morning, natural light tells your brain that it's time to wake up, and it also helps you sleep more soundly at night.

that people who are deprived of sunlight for long periods of time experience major disruptions in their sleep, temperature and hormone cycles. This can , anxiety and weight gain.

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