Daylight Savings Time – Friend or Foe?

Daylight Savings Time is one of the signs winter is almost over. What does that have to do with health and wellness you may ask.

Life flows smoothly through the seasons and we see gradual changes in the environment and our bodies along the way. However, twice a year we have abrupt man-made schedule shifts to Daylight Savings Time in the Spring and back to Standard Time in the Fall.

I do not know many people who enjoy either of those abrupt changes. Generally each one is followed by a week of grogginess as we adjust to the new normal.

A recent study has determined there is a significant increase in strokes occurring in the to days following the start of Daylight Savings Time.

Even without that official study our bodies have been telling us these abrupt schedule shifts are not a good thing.

Any time you want to make a major change it is much more effective to break it into smaller steps and gradually move in a new direction.

Ideally we should gradually adjust our sleeping patterns in the days leading up to the change but generally we scramble to adjust after.

Here are a few simple tips too ease the adjustment a bit and help Daylight Savings Time be more of a friend:

Give yourself and those around you an extra dose of patience as you ease into the new schedule.

Work some extra rest time into your day. Your body resets itself as you rest so don’t fight it.

Make sure to stay well-hydrated through the day. Water helps all the systems in your body run smoothly. A bit of extra water can help relieve stress as your body adjusts.

Eat a balanced diet through the day to keep your energy level consistent. Providing the proper fuel helps you body function at it’s best.

Engage in your favorite exercise to boost your energy. This exercise will get your blood flowing which will carry more oxygen through your system and clear your brain.

Spend some time outdoors, breathing the fresh air and getting some sunlight. Sunlight helps your body produce Vitamin D and a healthy dose of fresh air can perk up your energy level.

As we reach the middle of March it can sometimes feel like winter will never end. Hopefully the tips above will help you enjoy the last few weeks of winter and welcome spring feeling recharged and ready for new growth.

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Tagged as: balance, Daylight Savings Time - Friend or Foe, Rest, seasons, sleep, spring, time, Water, winter