How to Adapt to the End of Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time has officially come to an end.  And although you gained an hour of sleep last Saturday night, you’ve lost an hour of evening daylight on a daily basis. If you tend to get a bit glum around this time of year (many people do), here are a few ways to ease the transition to shorter days.

  1. Embrace sunlight, but not blue light. Just because you have fewer daylight hours doesn’t mean you have to give up on sunshine altogether for the season. You just have to get creative about the ways you get your vitamin D. Wake up an hour earlier to take advantage of the early-morning sunshine, or buy a light therapy device, which emits rays that closely mimic sunshine, to help boost your mood.

  2. Exercise regularly. You might also want to keep exercising outside for as long as possible. If you bundle up adequately, you can still enjoy an early-morning or lunch break workout in the fresh air. Even if you head to the gym, the exercise will still help you keep a normal sleep schedule as the daylight hours shift.

  3. Don’t overindulge, especially before bedtime. You might be tempted to overdo it on comfort food or wine when the weather gets chilly outside, but this could actually mess with your sleep cycle—and make the transition to winter even more difficult. Heavy food can cause discomfort, which may lead to restless sleep, and wine may interfere with the deepest sleep states.

Don’t Lose Sleep Over Time Changes [AARP]
End of Daylight Saving Time: How to Adjust [Reader’s Digest]
Ways to Avoid Seasonal Affective Disorder [Reader’s Digest]