It’s Time to Change Your Clocks—And Your Sleep Routine, Too
Get ready to change the clock on your microwave. Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday, March 9 at 3:00 am, and we’ve shared advice from Sleep Medicine Specialist, Abid Bhat, MD, enough times to know that it’s not just your clocks that need adjusting.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), that one hour change has a real impact on your physical and mental health. To minimize fatigue, the AASM offers the following suggestions:
- Get at least seven hours of sleep the night before and after the time change. Maintaining a consistent sleep routine is crucial.
- Gradually adjust bedtimes and rise times by shifting them 15-20 minutes earlier each night a few nights before the time change.
- Adjust the timing of daily routines that are “time cues” for your body, such as mealtimes or exercise routines.
- Set clocks ahead one hour in the early evening on March 9 and then go to sleep at your normal bedtime that evening.
- Head outdoors for early morning sunlight the week after the time change, as the bright light will help set your internal clock to the new time. This helps regulate sleep and alertness.
If you’re not getting the sleep your body needs, regardless of the time change, consider making an appointment with a UH Sleep Medicine Specialist. Call 816-404-0858 to make an appointment downtown or at our Lakewood campus.