How "Springing Forward" Affects Sleep

This weekend marks the beginning of daylight saving time, when we jump forward an hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 11. The good news is that we have a day to acclimate to the change before the start of the workweek, but the bad news is that our internal clocks may not be as easy to reset as the ones on our computers and phones. In fact, many sleep experts say that losing that hour of sleep because of DST can affect us for around 48 hours, meaning come Monday, you may be dreaming of resting your head on your keyboard for a quick nap. To prevent a groggy, irritable start to the week, here are some tips for dealing with DST.

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  • Time to change your habits: A post-DST hangover-like feeling can be all you need to realize that your sleeping habits in general need a change. Things like establishing a bedtime routine and regular bedtime and not using the snooze button can all help you get more quality sleep. Here are more expert ways to change your sleep habits for the better.
  • Start preparing: Going to sleep and waking up 30 minutes earlier over the weekend can prepare you for that early morning jolt come Monday. Once you wake up over the weekend, try to get some sunlight as soon as possible for extra energy, says sleep expert Nicholas Rummo.
  • Take a hot shower at night: Try taking a hot shower before bed and then getting into a cool bed. That ritual will mimic the day-to-night process, which may help guide you to sleep.