Feel Better When Daylight Saving Time Ends

Getting up in the morning isn’t always easy, and it is even harder when you lose an hour of sleep. Check out these tips for how to feel better when Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend.

Daylight Saving Time means more sunlight and a later sunset, but it sure wreaks havoc on sleep schedules in the week after it happens. When we turn the clocks ahead an hour, there are ways to lessen your suffering.

Why is Springing Forward Difficult?

Springing forward for Daylight Saving Time can be difficult because it disrupts your body’s internal clock, also known as the circadian rhythm. Here are a few reasons why the time change can be tough:

Loss of Sleep: Moving the clock forward by an hour means you lose an hour of sleep, which can make you feel groggy, tired, and less alert the next day.
Circadian Rhythm Disruption: Your body operates on a natural sleep-wake cycle influenced by light. When the time shifts suddenly, your internal clock takes time to adjust, leading to poor sleep quality and fatigue.
Increased Risk of Health Issues: Studies show that the days following daylight saving time see a rise in heart attacks, stroke, and workplace and car accidents.
Reduced Alertness & Productivity: The sudden shift can lead to decreased focus, concentration, and productivity at work and school.
Mood Changes: A lack of sleep and disrupted rhythm can lead to irritability, stress, and even an increased risk of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

While that all sounds terrible, there are ways to lessen the symptoms.

Prepare Your Body Ahead of Time

Here are a few tips for reorganizing your sleep schedule to prepare:

Aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night before and after the time change to keep your sleep schedule steady.
Gradually shift your bedtime and wake-up time 15–20 minutes earlier each night in the days leading up to the time change.
Adjust your daily routines, such as meals and exercise, which serve as time cues for your body, to align with the new schedule.
On the evening of Saturday, March 7, set manual clocks forward one hour and go to bed at your usual time. Digital clocks update automatically at 2 am on Sunday, March 8.
Spend time outside in the early morning light during the week following the time change to help your body adjust and regulate sleep and alertness.

Hot Tubs Provide Many Benefits

You probably know about the many benefits of a hot tub — relief from sore muscles, relaxation, less stress, and more — but did you know that a hot tub can also help you sleep better?

Because of the benefits of hydrotherapy, your body benefits in multiple ways, including improved sleep.

Hot water immersion helps you feel relaxed by increasing your body temperature. This, in turn, improves your circulation and helps your body release endorphins.

This helps you relax, fall asleep faster, and sleep more soundly throughout the night.

Hot Tubs are Sleep-Helpers

It’s a good plan to soak in your hot tub for 15 minutes, about an hour or so before bedtime. This helps you relax your muscles and relieve muscle tension. As your body temperature changes, you give it a signal that sleep is near. With your dropping body temperature, you feel more drowsy, and the hot tub helps you with this temperature decline.

As an added benefit, you calm your mind and prepare your body for a good night’s sleep.

When you fall asleep, your body temperature naturally cools down. When you leave your spa, your body naturally cools down, preparing you for sleep. Ultimately, this helps you not only fall asleep faster but also stay asleep.

Final Thoughts on Daylight Saving Time

Now that you know another one of the benefits of hot tub soaking, it’s time to dedicate yourself to regular hot tub soaking. You’ll be amazed at how much your sleep improves.

If you don’t have a hot tub, we have two locations in Tulsa and look forward to meeting you and helping you find the hot tub of your dreams.