This blog was written by Dan Walker. Meet our blogging fitness specialists at the NIFS website.
Many things in life can be hazardous to your health, such as smoking, drunk driving, and too much sun exposure. Many of these things remain in your control, fortunately, putting your health in your hands.
One thing you can’t control, though, that can potentially cause problems is daylight saving time, surprisingly enough. No one minds the extra hour of sleep that accompanies it in the fall, but the hour that is lost in the spring is a different story.
A recent study at Loyola University found that heart attacks are more common on the first Monday of daylight saving time, as well as traffic accidents and injuries in the workplace. Many people already have trouble sleeping, so losing one more hour of sleep time can make it hard for the first few days or weeks afterwards.
Here are some tips to help you better cope with the time change next time around.
- Go to bed and wake up a little earlier in the days leading up to the change so it won’t come as such a shock.
- Expose your body to light each morning after the change to help adjust your body’s sleep/wake cycle.
- Try not to schedule important tasks and projects that require your full attention until a few days after the change if you are worried you might be sleep deprived.
Along with these tips, remember that getting enough sleep each night is crucial to employee health year round. If you are struggling to get in seven to eight hours nightly, check out local resources and think about seeing your doctor to discuss your options. You can’t afford not to.