Spring Forward But Stay Rested: Tips To Sleeping Better at This Time of Year

With many places now on daylight savings time, it means an hour less in bed than we are used to. I know some places are yet to change, such as over in Europe. But if the clocks have gone forward where you are, or they are about to change, you might need some advice to deal with the changes in sleep pattern. Even though it is only one hour, it really can have an impact on your life. So here are some ways to help you deal with the change. I hope that this helps!

Avoid the Temptation to Nap!

If you want to get onto the new schedule, then you need to avoid taking a nap. It can be hard when you’re tired. But taking a nap, especially too late in the day will not leave you feeling tired when you go to bed. So if you feel yourself wanting to take a nap, then try getting up and doing something instead. You don’t want to keep yourself up at night because you had a nap, or you’ll never adjust to the new time and always feel exhausted.

Get a New Mattress

Did you know that mattresses need to be changed every eight years? If yours is coming up for a change, then don’t put it off. You’d be surprised just how much the mattress that you have affects the kind of sleep that you get. I would also suggest looking into different types of mattresses. Somewhere like Bedowl looks at different types, especially air mattresses. So if you are someone that does struggle to sleep, at any time of the year, then it might be worth looking into.

Avoid Caffeine

When you’re feeling tired, the boost that a cup of coffee gives you can make a big difference. So I’m not saying that you need to avoid all caffeine, but it will help to make a difference if you have less than normal. You especially want to avoid it late at night, or even in the afternoon. You don’t know how caffeine could affect you, so it is best to avoid having too much when you’re planning on going to sleep within a couple of hours.

Use Light

Natural light is a great way to help adjust our body clocks. So no that the mornings will be lighter, it is a great way to help your body adjust itself. Obviously, this can’t be done if you have thick blackout style curtains. So it could be worth getting some thinner curtains for the spring and summer (or at least until you’re back on your normal schedule). It is a good idea to get ready by a window if possible and have your breakfast in a bright part of the house. Then your body can naturally get used to the new waking time, and you can enjoy all of that vitamin D.

What have you found works for you when it comes to daylight savings time? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.