Do This Now To Ease Your Transition To Daylight Saving Time

To ease the transition to Daylight Saving Time, which begins on Sunday, March 10, 2024, sleep specialists recommend gradually adjusting sleep schedules starting a week ahead. Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a sleep expert from the University of Southern California, emphasizes the importance of planning to mitigate the impact on the body’s circadian rhythms. The approach involves incrementally advancing bedtime and wake-up times, starting with as little as five minutes and increasing to up to 30 minutes. For families unable to start adjusting their sleep schedules immediately, beginning the process a few days before Daylight Saving Time by incrementing bedtime by 15 to 20 minutes can still be effective. This gradual adjustment is preferable to changing the schedule by an entire hour abruptly.

Adjusting other daily routines such as meal times, exercise, and medication schedules can also help synchronize the body’s internal clock. Pediatrician Dr. Cora Collette Breuner suggests preparing the night before. Lay out clothes and pack bags and lunches to reduce morning stress. Avoiding naps can also help adapt to the time shift. Exposure to bright light in the morning and avoiding it in the evening can aid in adjusting to the time change while keeping electronic devices out of the bedroom promotes better sleep as well.

Source: CNN