Daylight Savings Time is one of the many “changes” we have to prepare for in midlife. This year we spring forward on March 8, 2025. Is your body ready for it?

You may be thinking: I don’t need this article. Why is Daylight Savings a thing? Why do I need to worry about it? And what can I do about it?

Let’s jump to the meat of it. You care about Daylight Savings Time (DST) because it shifts your body’s natural cycle of sleep. This impacts your energy, mood, food choices, exercise bandwidth, and a lot more. Yes, DST affects you, and preparing for it matters.

Why Do We Have Daylight Savings Time?

The idea behind DST is to adjust our clocks so that there is more daylight in the evening. DST is commonly seen as a way to “save” natural light.

Winston Churchill said about Daylight Saving Time, “An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn. We borrow an hour one night in (March or) April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.” 

In the Fall, we gained an hour of sleep – as you know, sleep is my most favorite wellness strategy, potion, vitamin. However, we also lost light, a consequence felt deeply by most, even if we don’t acknowledge it. (See my post on light.)

How to Prepare for Daylight Savings

Now in the Spring (almost!) we lose an hour. So how do we prepare? How do we minimize the effects to stay healthy?

A little science first: 

• A Swedish study found that there is an increase in heart attacks that first day after the transition. 
• Car accidents and workplace safety issues increase and school performance suffers after we spring ahead.
• Humans are most vulnerable to sleep loss during the spring clock change, with one study reporting that the average person sleeps 40 minutes less.

Now, let’s talk about hacks for minimizing the negative effects of Daylight Savings Time:

• Make an extra effort to be well-rested the week before the time change. Starting a week before the change, go to bed 15 minutes earlier than usual. Every couple of days, move the bedtime up another 15 minutes. This allows your body to acclimate to the “earlier” bedtime faster.
• If you feel sleepy the Sunday after DST, take a short 15- to 20-minute nap in the early afternoon to give your body some rest. Just remember that your nap should not be too close to bedtime (no less than six hours before bedtime).
• Assess how the nap affects your sleep quality to learn how to get the most out of napping. For some, napping can make nighttime sleeping more difficult. For others, however, a short nap can be revitalizing without affecting nighttime sleep.
• DO NOT sleep in an hour longer in the morning. This will really mess with your sleep cycle, your food choices, fitness motivation, and much more. Keep your alarm at its normal time, and make yourself get up when it goes off – no snooze button!

The week following Daylight Savings Time can wreak havoc on our bodies if we do not prepare ahead of time. By moving our bedtimes forward incrementally a week ahead of time, napping strategically, and sticking to our wake-up time, we can reduce the chance DST hurts our productivity and health.

Positive shifts in our health happen by adopting small, stackable habits. If you need help identifying the habits that fit best with your lifestyle and wellness goals, schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation with me. Be well!