Natural Ways to Adjust to Daylight Saving Time

Natural Ways to Adjust to Daylight Saving Time

For those who still find it difficult to “spring forward and fall back”

There are ways to adjust to daylight saving time (DST), which is the practice of moving your clocks twice a year to use all of the sunlight in the northern hemisphere in the spring. There are mixed opinions about this practice, depending on where you are in the globe. More prominently, it is observed in the United States and Canada.

In those parts of the world, people are advised to move their clocks an hour forward on the second Sunday of March and move them an hour back on the first Sunday of November. Thus, the phrase “spring forward, fall back.”

A colored geographical chart showing which countries practice daylight saving time.

Source: Statista

During DST, you experience dark mornings and more hours of daylight by the end of the day. While it seemed logical when it was first introduced in the war to conserve energy and fuel, many no longer see the practicality these days. There is an ongoing discussion to terminate what is now considered an “outdated” practice.

Maintain the same amount of sleep

Black and white photo of a woman sleeping in bed

After adjusting your clocks, one of the first things you realize is that your body might not adapt properly as soon as you need it.

Maintain your six to eight hours of sleep daily and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Avoid napping late in the afternoon or staying up too late to keep minimum disturbance to your circadian rhythm. You can also go to bed 15-30 minutes earlier than usual a week before DST to help your body get accustomed faster.

Start healthy sleep hygiene

Putting oil on the arm using a dropper

Setting your mind, body, and environment for sleep will be a good practice to start a week before DST. There are various ways to do this:

  1. Avoid caffeinated drinks during late afternoon.
  2. Keep electronic devices at bay before bed time.
  3. Try using aromatherapy in the bedroom to induce sleep.
  4. Add Verma Farms CBD sleep oil in your nighttime routine.
  5. Add a 10- to 15-minute meditation before going to bed.
  6. Lower the temperature and keep a dark and quiet atmosphere in the bedroom.
  7. Avoid nighttime exercise.

Exercise regularly, especially in the days leading up to DST

Feet running on paved road

Enough activity in the daytime will most often lead to a restful sleep at night. It also lessens the occurrence of sleep disorders like insomnia.

The John Hopkins Center for Sleep says evidence suggests moderate aerobic exercise helps you sleep quicker and at a higher quality later on. While the research has not pinpointed what exactly causes this, they found out that exercising promotes deep sleep and regulates your mood.

Avoid exercising nearer bedtime though. The release of the good hormone endorphins tends to keep people awake.

Try a weighted blanket

An arm showing out of the bedsheet

A weighted blanket is heavier than a regular blanket to mimic the warm and comforting result of a hug. It reduces anxiety and stress from a hard day’s work.

The Sleep Foundation says it is designed to give you a sense of security just like how a blanket swaddles a newborn baby. More technically, it stimulates deep pressure that produces serotonin and lowers cortisol levels.

People who are stressed, and have anxiety and depression use weighted blankets to positively affect their sleep.

Introduce CBD gummies or CBD oil into your day

CBD gummies

Cannabidiol (CBD) is touted for its positive effects to your general well-being. It affects the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) in regulating bodily functions, such as pain sensation and mental functions.

While CBD is derived from the same hemp plant that produce THC, it does not have psychoactive effects. It’s also friendly to first-time users. Helping to regulate sleep is one of its touted effects. You can pop in a Verma Farms CBD Energy Gummy in the morning to help you get through the day’s work or take 2 drops of CBD Focus Oil to boost your productivity.