HIGHLIGHTS: We turn the clocks back this weekend . . . here are a few tips so it doesn’t disrupt your sleep too much. Don’t use technology if you have trouble falling asleep on Sunday night, since the light from the screens will just confuse your body more. And don’t nap, since it can lower the quality of your actual sleep later that night.
FULL STORY: We turn the clocks back this weekend, which means we get an extra hour of sleep on Saturday night. But the time change can still mess with you and make you feel more tired than usual. Here’s how to prevent that . . .
1. Stick to your sleeping pattern. Luckily having the clocks “fall back” is easier on your body than when they “spring forward.” You SHOULD wake up Sunday morning more refreshed since you gained an hour overnight. It’s falling asleep Sunday night that might be trickier.
2. Don’t use technology in the bedroom. If falling asleep on Sunday is a struggle, it might be tempting to flip through your phone in bed or watch a few more episodes of something on Netflix.
But the blue light from the screens will just confuse your body even more. So try not to use technology for at least an hour before you want to go to bed . . . and definitely don’t use it BECAUSE you can’t fall asleep.
3. Avoid naps. Naps seem like a good idea when your body clock is out of sync, but it can lower the quality of your actual sleep later that night. If you HAVE to nap, make sure it’s short, like 10 to 20 minutes.
Originally posted on November 2nd, 2018
