Daylight savings in Spring…a time of the year many of us dread.
Namely for the fact that we lose an hour of sleep and have to brace for the disruption of the daily routine we’ve established since we got an hour back in Fall.
Because there’s no way to avoid it (unless you’d like to be late for every meeting, event, and appointment), we’re reframing how we view Daylight Savings and thinking about ways to combat the inherent disruption that comes with it.
Reset your clocks
Set a reminder on your phone (which should reset automatically) to change the clocks in your house. Ovens, microwaves, car clocks.
Dedicate a few minutes to this, the night before Daylight Savings so you reset and relax.
Plan a full-night’s rest
Just like jet lag, sleep is the key to feeling better when time is in flux.
Whether that means turning off your devices early and winding down with a meditation app or ensuring the humidifier is full and taking a dose of melatonin, put things in motion to have a good night’s sleep.
Strive for a full 8 hours, even if that means going to bed a little bit earlier than you normally would.
Eat well & exercise
These are no brainers, not just during DST but also in life.
Skip the gas station chips and the store-bought cookies and go for foods that will feel good to eat and do good for your body.
In addition to chow, hit the treadmill, go for a walk, or take a yoga class.
Add a little pep to your weekly step leading up to Sunday, in so when you lose an hour, you’re in good shape to handle it.
Have a low-key Saturday
March 8th 2020 is Daylight Savings, which is a Sunday. So! Prep for Sunday by having a low-key, quiet Saturday in which you don’t expend too much energy.
If your normal Saturday plans include a glass of wine and Netflix, no need to not have a drink. Just don’t go overboard and find yourself suffering extra hard on Sunday.
Reframe your thoughts with this poem
Sometimes it takes the perspectives of others to help reframe how we see something.
Whether you’re a poetry fan or not, the below poem from Phyllis McGinley reminds us of the cyclical nature of Daylight Savings and how to positively view the loss of an hour. Enjoy!
Daylight Savings Time by Phyllis McGinley
In spring when maple buds are red,
We turn the clock an hour ahead;
Which means, each April that arrives,
We lose an hour out of our lives.
Who cares? When autumn birds in flocks
Fly southward, back we turn the clocks,
And so regain a lovely thing
That missing hour we lost in spring.