For me, Daylight Savings Time is both a blessing and a curse. I LOVE that it means Springtime is here and that means summer is well on its way! I also love the lighter evenings to actually enjoy a walk in the park after work. Unfortunately, we lose an hour of sleep, something most of us can’t afford in the first place. We also find it more difficult to wake up in the morning because it is still dark out- throwing off our body’s circadian rhythm. So here are some tips I thought were helpful in adjusting to the snooze we lose when we spring ahead.

Head to bed earlier. I know you’re thinking this is not possible. I remember as a kid growing up that I hated going to bed when it was still light outside. I didn’t understand how my mom could make me go to bed when it wasn’t dark outside. Very confusing for a little kid, haha, but maybe also for us adults! If we can schedule our evening’s activities and try to at least start winding down an hour before we go to bed, that may help us actually get to bed at a decent time. You know what they say, “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise!â€. Good advice for all the time, don’t you think?

Try to limit your caffeine before bedtime. Try drinking non-caffeinated tea instead of coffee. Try some chamomile tea- which is a natural remedy shown to help with insomnia. I always enjoy a good cup of tea to help me relax and get cozy before bed.

Switch up your exercise routine. If you normally like to work out in the morning, the time change may not assist in your motivation to get out of bed to do so when you are already losing an hour of sleep. So maybe try to work out or go for a run after work since it is lighter in the evening. But remember- too late to bed time will keep your metabolism going and hinder your ability to fall asleep faster.

Take a look at your sleep hygiene. This term sleep hygiene refers to calming rituals that someone may have to wind down in the evening before heading to bed. Such rituals can include a lot of what I’ve already touched on, like drinking hot chamomile tea, but can also include taking a hot bath, doing some light reading, and reducing electronic device usage. Basically, you want to begin to shut off your brain and start to relax so that when you actually get to bed, you’re not staring at the ceiling for an hour because your brain is still wound up thinking about all the things you have to do tomorrow.

Make sure you have a comfortable mattress. I don’t know about you, but I so look forward to heading to bed at night because I get to snuggle up in my king size bed with my snuggly fur babies and awesomely comfy mattress and bedding. Investing in a comfortable mattress is a necessity that will keep on giving, especially as we turn those clocks ahead!

So let’s not concentrate on the snooze we lose as we spring into spring (haha), let’s rejoice in knowing we made it through yet another cold winter and summer time is almost here!