This morning was my first workday after the time "sprang forward" for Daylight Saving Time, and as usual, it was tough. It didn't help that last night the hubby and I had theater tickets, so we got home late, and this morning I woke up to a freak snowstorm. Ugh!
Daylight Saving Time (DST) was originally intended to reduce the use of electric lighting, and therefore reduce overall energy consumption. According to Wikipedia, sources are mixed on whether or not it still meets this goal. Apparently it's a good thing for outdoor sporting events and shopping, but bad for evening activities and farmers. Seems like it's kind of a toss-up as to whether DST is still useful or not.
Personally, I'm not a fan--especially during the first week. As an insomnia sufferer, I need all the sleep I can get. I need to find a way to adjust to the time change fast, so I can get back on my normal sleep schedule (well, as normal as it gets for me, anyway). To do that, I researched some tips on adjusting more quickly.
Here are a few of the tips I found:
1) Try to get morning sun while avoiding afternoon sun for a few days. This will help reset the body's circadian rhythms.
2) Have a regular schedule. Going to bed and getting up at the same times encourages the body to be ready for sleep.
3) Take melatonin.
4) Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon / early evening hours.
A lot of the sites I checked suggested going to bed a little earlier each night for the few days before DST begins, and getting up earlier, to prepare yourself for the change slowly. I'll try this tip next year, I think.
As for this year, I'll have to do my best to get myself back on a regular schedule. Morning sun will probably have to wait until this weekend, when I don't have to drive to work in the dark. Most of all, I'm just going to have to tough it out. I may be stumbling around like a zombie, but I'm not alone. This is something most people in the USA and many other Northern hemisphere countries are dealing with right now. At least we're all groggy and crabby together.
Anybody else have any tips for dealing with Daylight Saving Time?
Cassandra
www.cassandragold.com
5 comments:
I feel dragged out for almost a week after the time change. You wouldn't think missing that one hour would cause any problems, but it sure does with me.
Shame!
I'm so lucky to live in a DST free country.
I hope you get back to your normal sleeping schedule soon.
:-)
I wish we just stayed in DST all the time...
DST sucks. I wish we didn't have it. I like my dark nights... Anyway, I have the same issues as you. That one missing hour! It's crazy. I think I'll try the going to bed earlier thing next year, too.
@Mary Suzanne: me too!
@Misha: you are very lucky. And thanks :)
@Chris: I agree. The switching seems pointless to me in this day and age.
@Devin: I hope it helps you. At this point I'm willing to try anything!
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