When we think about the end of daylight saving time we probably only think of one thing… MORE sleep! That sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? Well, not so fast. While more sleep is typically a good thing, the sudden change can also put strain on your body, as it throws your whole sleep pattern out of whack!
We love to get some extra shut eye just as much as the next person, but the end of daylight savings time doesn’t just mean more sleep, it also means more hours spent in the dark. That’s right, it’s that time of year again where you wake up, head out the door to work and unfortunately, it’s already dark before you get home. According to Sleep Resolutions, this causes you to become sleepy earlier in the day and can make you groggy, irritable and anxious and for some people can even lead to SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of seasonal depression.
If you want to combat the winter blues you can try things like light therapy, exercise and napping. Although light therapy is best used under the care of your physician, exercise and naps are something almost anyone can do. It’s simple, just stick to an exercise regime that is the same each day and is preferably done outside in the sunlight. And if exercise isn’t your thing, napping might just be the cure all! Just be careful, if you nap for too long or too late in the day you might have difficulty falling asleep at night! Because you might be a little more on edge and tired that first week after day light savings time ends, you should be extra cautious and aware of your surroundings when driving or walking in traffic.
Now, we can’t turn back time, but we can make time go a little faster. How you might ask? Well it’s simple, really… just take a few days off after the end of DST and stay home in your Yogabed. Time always goes faster when your asleep, right? So, take a mental health day and sleep away those winter blues.
