What Is Daylight Saving Time? Daylight Saving Time Sleep Tips Update 04/2024

This “spring forward” can have a variety of consequences on mood and health, depending on the time of year. Poor or insufficient sleep has a substantial impact on the daily activities of more than four out of ten Americans, according to research. When many individuals have to adjust to losing an hour of their day in March, these figures will likely rise.

What Is Daylight Saving Time?

The annual practice of advancing clocks by one hour from March to November is known as Daylight Saving Time (DST). The second Sunday in March is when this occurs. The non-DST period of November to March is known as Standard Time (ST). On the first Sunday of November, clocks are put back an hour. The term “spring ahead, fall back” was coined to describe this phenomenon.

We get an extra hour of daylight in the afternoon during DST. They can use a lot less artificial light in the evening because people tend to be more active during the day. In addition, some argue that DST can reduce the amount of energy needed to light buildings and increase the safety of roads at night.

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The benefits of DST may outweigh the drawbacks, however this is debatable. Due to the use of additional technologies, some say that the energy savings from DST are negligible. As a result of DST, sleep deprivation has been related to a rise in traffic accidents, social issues, and lower productivity.

How Does Daylight Saving Time Affect Sleep?

Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that control sleep and other important body functions, such as food and mood, in humans and other mammals. Light exposure is a major factor in determining these patterns. Resetting your body and mind each day necessitates that it be in harmony with the natural light and dark cycles.

During the time change from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time, the mornings are darker and the evenings are brighter. Sleep-wake cycles can be “delayed” in this way, resulting in daytime sleepiness and nighttime arousal. Sleep loss and “sleep debt,” which is the cumulative impact of not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, can be caused by a misalignment in the body’s circadian rhythm.

People are especially susceptible to sleep deprivation in early March, when daylight saving time (DST) begins. On the Monday following “Springing Forward,” the typical individual gets 40 minutes less sleep than they do on other nights of the year. During the November changeover from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time, researchers have also found detrimental consequences that should be taken into consideration. There is an increased risk of depression, suicide, and traffic accidents during both biannual changeover periods. Experts, on the other hand, believe that as more individuals choose to drive home from work in the daytime, the number of accidents will decline.

In November, when DST ends and Standard Time begins, major sleep disturbances are less likely to occur. As a matter of fact, many people report feeling more rested when Daylight Savings Time ends. If you have a hard time adjusting to your new wake-up time, this may be an issue for you.

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Some studies have shown that the human body never entirely adapts to DST, despite the fact that many people do. If they don’t address their circadian misalignment, it could become a long-term problem. It’s especially dangerous for people who suffer from “social jet lag,” which occurs when the responsibilities of school or job take precedence over a good night’s sleep. Obesity, depression, and heart disease have all been related to long-term social jet lag. After a few weeks, the affects of DST wear off.

Some experts believe that DST should be abolished because of the many bad results and risk factors linked with the system’s introduction in March. Human circadian rhythms, according to these proponents, would be better served by a permanent standard time, which would be better for public health and safety. Many countries throughout the world observe Daylight Saving Time (DST) because it reduces energy use, lower expenses, and helps protect the environment. DST has also been shown to reduce crime rates because of the absence of dark hours.

As previously mentioned, Daylight Saving Time is not observed on the islands of American Samoa (AS), Guam (GM), or Hawaii (HI). Except for a few Navajo Nation territories that stretch into neighboring states, the rest of Arizona has this characteristic. A bipartisan measure to make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the US was announced in March 2021 by state legislators in Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oregon. A total of 33 states – albeit not all of them – attempted or enacted comparable resolutions at the state level in the year 2021.

Consequences of sleep loss with Daylight Savings Time

Symptoms of sleep deprivation can be exacerbated by Daylight Savings Time (DST) and subsequent shifts in sleep and wake-up schedules. Moodiness, irritability, and exhaustion are more common side effects, as also difficulty concentrating.

Circadian rhythms and Daylight Savings Time adjustments

Our internal 24-hour clock, the circadian rhythm, governs our sleep-wake cycle. Circadian rhythms are regulated by external and environmental stimuli, and light is a major contributor. In and out of Daylight Saving Time (DST), we are exposed to less natural light.

Our waking hours become darker and our evenings become longer as we “fall back” into Standard Time. This can lead to “circadian misalignment,” in which the body’s inherent circadian rhythms are out of sync with the seasons. Delaying the sleep-wake cycle causes us to be more fatigued in the mornings yet more energetic at night. When our circadian rhythms become used to a new schedule, getting out of bed in the morning becomes much more manageable.

How Do Longer Days Affect Our Mental and Physical Wellness?

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DST has both positive and negative effects on mood and health. When it comes to DST, the circadian rhythm may be badly affected, but there are other health benefits to consider as well.

Positive Effects on Mood

The mood-enhancing chemical serotonin is regulated by exposure to natural light. Most people can take advantage of the longer days and increased exposure to natural light that Daylight Savings Time (DST) brings.

People who are more alert at night may be able to do more exercise. Feeling more optimistic may be a result of higher endorphin production as a result of spending time outdoors or exercising.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common occurrence in the winter months, when the days are shorter and the nights are longer (SAD). SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is a form of depression that is frequently brought on by a lack of exposure to sunlight. Depressed feelings and exhaustion are common symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). DST can help lessen the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) since it improves exposure to natural light.

More natural light improves mood, vitality, and well-being in general.

Negatives Effects on Mood

Stress, anger, melancholy, and mental tiredness are all symptoms of sleep loss or lack. DST and ST adjustments may disrupt your circadian cycle, which may affect your ability to sleep. Depression, anxiety, and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can all stem from this. DST/ST will be difficult for those who already have sleep or emotional issues. People who suffer from anxiety or other forms of mental distress often have difficulty sleeping, which can lead to a vicious cycle of poor sleep.

Daylight Saving Time Sleep Tips

Taking the following steps in the days and weeks leading up to time changes will help you adjust more smoothly:

• Sleep hygiene refers to practices that can either improve or worsen one’s ability to sleep. You should avoid drinking before going to sleep to help with the adjustment to the new time zone. Alcohol can make you feel drowsy at first, but it also disrupts your sleep and lowers your quality of sleep. The quality of your night’s sleep may be harmed if you eat a lot of food right before going to bed.
• Consistent sleep habits can help you adjust to time shifts, as well as help you get a good night’s sleep every night, no matter what day of the week it is. A minimum of seven hours of sleep per night is recommended both before and after the Daylight Savings Time change.
• Make Small Changes to Your Sleep Schedule: Sleep specialists advocate waking up 15 to 20 minutes earlier than usual two to three days before Daylight Saving Time begins in early March. You should also adjust your alarm clock back 15-20 minutes on Saturday, the day before the time change. When the clocks change, your body will have an easier time adjusting if you shift your wake-up time.
• Exposure to sunlight can help ease the weariness that comes with time shifts. Melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone released in the evening, is suppressed when you spend time outside in the sunlight throughout the day.
• People who are sleep deprived due to DST may benefit from taking brief naps during the day. To avoid feeling drowsy in the morning, these naps should not last longer than 20 minutes. After a time change, consider taking a sleep on Sunday afternoon instead of changing your wake-up time.
• Caffeine can disturb your sleep cycle if eaten within six hours of bedtime, according to studies. If you consume moderate amounts of caffeine in the morning or early afternoon, it should have less of an impact on your sleep.

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Danh mục: Sleep Advisors