How to Survive the Time Change

UPDATE – This coming Sunday morning, a lot of brains will be thrown out of whack, as the clocks shift forward by an hour in the earliest-ever return to Daylight Saving Time (DST). Even though the clock will say 8 a.m., it will feel like 7 a.m. to our brains and bodies?and that will leave many people feeling groggy or “not quite right” for a day or more. The Monday morning commute on the day after DST starts is especially hard, and is associated with a spike in sleepy-driving crashes.

You can help reduce the impact that this time shift will have on you by going to bed a little earlier each night?even 15 minutes earlier for three days can start to make a difference. And, set your alarm clock for 15 minutes earlier, too. Then, set your clock ahead one hour before you go to bed Saturday, and wake up at your “regular” time on Sunday morning. Don’t sleep in just because the clocks have changed! In fact, sleeping late on weekends isn’t a good idea any time of the year.

Sleep psychologist Todd Arnedt says that making a gradual adjustment in this way will lessen the disjointed feeling that comes with losing or gaining an hour, whether it’s because of the twice-a-year time shift or travel to another time zone. He also says that women are more likely than men to develop insomnia or other irregular sleeping patterns.

Art credit: freeimages.co.uk

When it comes to good health, use your common sense?or use ANNE STRIEBER’S common sense! She can’t help you with your time problems, but she DID discover the key to how to lose weight, keep it off and never be hungry! To read her FREE diet book, click here and scroll down to What I Learned From the Fat Years. Keep the fun coming: subscribe today and join our great chats! UPDATE: Dr. Lynne Kitei will be on the TV show Geraldo at Large on the Fox network on Sunday, March 11th at 8 p.m. PST (and remember, it will be an later, due to daylight savings time!)

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