How to Spring Forward Safely and Easily for Daylight Savings

Special Offer: Get 10% off sitewide at SoClean from March 8^th through March 18^th, 2016 in honor of Daylight Savings and World Sleep Day. Just use code sleep10 at checkout.

Springing forward for Daylight Savings is more than just an annual nuisance; it actually poses a hazard to your health and well-being. Losing that precious hour of sleep has been linked with a 6 percent increase in fatal car accidents and a 10 percent increased risk of having a heart attack.

In other words, even though one hour of lost sleep may not seem like much, it’s enough to leave you feeling the potentially harmful effects of sleep deprivation.

Luckily, there are simple ways to mitigate the health and wellness risks associated with Daylight Savings. Here are a few actions you can take leading up to and following this transition:

1. Start preparing early. Making gradual adjustments to your bedtime in the nights leading up to Daylight Savings can help your body ease into the transition. Try going to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier this week so you won’t feel so terrible come Monday morning.
2. Limit your alcohol intake this weekend. Contrary to what many people believe, alcohol can interfere with your ability to get a good night’s sleep. “Even though alcohol makes you feel sleepy, it prevents you from reaching those all-important deeper stages of sleep,” says clinical psychologist and sleep specialist Michael Breus, PhD. “So if you’re already going to be losing an hour of sleep, the last thing you need is poorer quality sleep.”
3. Take quick naps following the time change if you need to. Even if you’re prepared for Daylight Savings, there’s a chance you may feel more tired than usual in the days that follow. Avoid the temptation to sleep in later in the mornings; instead, take a 20-minute nap in the afternoon to hold you over until bedtime.
4. Be extra careful on the road. According to a 2014 report from AAA, an average of 328,000 car crashes per year involve a drowsy driver. If you feel too tired to drive during the mornings following Daylight Savings, consider making arrangements with your work to come in a little later, or drink a cup of coffee 30 minutes before you leave the house. Remember that your safety – and the safety of others – is key.

While Daylight Savings affects everyone differently, losing that hour of sleep can be especially difficult for those who already suffer from a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. In honor of Daylight Savings and the upcoming World Sleep Day, SoClean is offering 10% off site wide from March 8^th through March 18^th, 2016 when you use code sleep10 at checkout. Click here to take advantage of this special offer!