Edhat Staff
By the edhat staff
Getting up an hour earlier than expected is rough, but here are some tips to survive Daylight Saving Time (DST).
It might just be one hour of sleep, but for many, those are 60 minutes of precious snoozing that can make a Monday somewhat tolerable.
At 2:00 a.m. Sunday, everyone’s clocks will skip an hour and go right to 3:00 a.m. Well, everyone except Hawaii, Arizona, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands since those areas do not observe DST.
When nightly sleep gets messed up, it can cause just about anyone to feel irritable, sleepy, and/or hungry. To avoid the adult temper tantrums, try these tips to get your body’s schedule back on track.
1. SOAK UP THE SUN
When the rain clouds clear from our recent storm, try walking outside or sitting near an open window where the sun can reach you. Light exposure is supposed to help regulate our internal clocks and sleep-wake cycle. The sooner you get near the sun, the more alert you’ll feel early in the day and hopefully more sleepy by nightfall.
2. UNPLUG BEFORE BED
It’s no secret that computer and television screens can affect sleep. The blue and white lights cause a part of our brain to react in a way that’s not conducive to sleepy time. Shutting off electronics can let your brain relax and slow down.
3. EXERCISE
This seems to be the answer to just about everything, but it’s supposed to work. Especially if you keep your routine to the same time frame.
4. AVOID THE BOOZE
Boo, no fun. Even though a glass of wine or two may make you feel more sleepy, it can actually prevent you from achieving that deep sleep your body is craving. Don’t worry, this is just for the next few days while your body adjusts.
5. STICK TO YOUR SCHEDULE
This is boring but scientists say it works. So… try not to sleep in, keep getting up at the same time and going to bed at the same time, and apparently within a few days to a week, you’ll be back to feeling normal again.
Good luck edhatters and we’ll see you bright and early at the coffee shop on Monday morning.
DST LEGISLATION UPDATE
If there’s one thing Americans of all political parties can agree on, it’s that DST sucks. But why lawmakers put down their respective swords and get something done? Well it seems like there’s a bit more momentum lately.
Earlier this month, Sen. Marco Rubio reintroduced legislation that would make DST permanent on March 2. The Sunshine Protection Act passed unanimously in the Senate last year, but the bill stalled in the House. Although it has been reintroduced, there’s no guarantee it’ll pass again.
Another option is if a state or local government were to formally request the U.S. Secretary of Transportation with “detailed information” as to why the change “would serve the convenience of commerce,” according to TIME Magazine.
While there seems to be slight momentum twice a year, it seems unlikely that any real change will happen soon.
Heck! I’m retired! So I’ll just keep drinking my booze and get up when I feel like it. One hour forward or one hour back.
I’m really hoping this is the last one!!!
If we do decide to stop switching between standard and daylight saving time, may I suggest making standard time permanent instead of the Senate’s preference of permanent daylight saving time?
If we were to make daylight saving time permanent, the sun won’t come up until after 8:00am for much of December and January each year. It’s hard enough to get the day started in the cold winter months. Let’s not also make it dark.
Statistically you get more 6:30 evening sunlight annually using standard time than using daylight savings time I’m told. And having a consistent time is more healthy for the human clock and circadian rhythm. And research also tells us that teenagers especially do not do well in classes in the early a.m. when it is dark outside. We should just go back to a consistent time and stop the changeover. In our modern world it is much less purposeful in saving energy in any event.
6. Work from home on Monday if you have the option. Monday after DST change has higher accident rates.
This is the tough side of the change. It was so dark this morning at 7. The clouds helped with that. It’s only an hour yet it takes a lot of getting used to it.