The first weekend of November marks the end of daylight savings time. That means we turn our clocks turn back an hour, giving us an extra hour in our day. While that seems great, we pay the price for that hour. Changing the time can throw us off our schedule and wreak havoc on our interal clock.

Plus this is the time of year it gets dark before we even leave work,  which most of us really don’t like. All of this can affect our sleep and wake cycle, leading to us to lose sleep. The week after we change our clocks, many people wake up earlier, have more trouble falling asleep, and are more likely to wake up during the night. People who tend to be so-called short sleepers, logging under 7 hours a night, and early risers have the most trouble adjusting to the new schedule.

So what do we do?  The best thing we can do for us and our family is to regulate our body get to bed an hour earlier over the few days after daylight savings end until our body regulates. When it comes to the darkness, that can be a little tougher. I try to look on the bright side and organize some things around the house that I would not do on a warm sunny day. One thing I always keep in mind, it gets dark a little earlier every day until December 21, and after that it begins to swing back the other way, so in addition to the upcoming holidays, that is something to look forward to. 

Here are the top three ways to copy with the end of daylight savings time...

 

  • 1

    STICK TO A SET SLEEP SCHEDULE

    Just because the clocks are going back an hour does not mean you should go to sleep later. Like our doctors always say, getting the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night is necessary. To survive the end of daylight savings time, this idea is key. As the holiday approaches, try to regulate your body's sleep schedule to help lessen the toll the time transition could have on your body.

  • 2

    CUT BACK ON CAFFEINE

    While we typically see our coffee as the extra boost of energy we might need throughout the day, it can actually be causing more harm, especially during this holiday. Caffeine can linger in our bodies for a long period of time if we drink too much. This can keep us up later than we expected, affecting our set sleep schedule.

  • 3

    AVOID OVERSLEEPING

    On those mornings where all you want to do is just want to sleep in, don't! This can lead to you feeling more tired than before and will mess up your sleep schedule for the rest of the week.

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