Like it or not, its time to change the clocks. On November 3rd we will move our clocks back one hour, switching from daylight savings to standard time. Think “Spring forward & Fall back”. Although in BC, the entire daylight savings cycle is under review, we will still be making the change this year. Daylight savings was introduced in 1908 so that people could use the daylight hours to a greater advantage. Our bodies are programmed to be awake when its light and asleep when it’s dark. This is important especially in northern latitudes where the sun cycle changes significantly during the year. In countries closer to the equator, the day and night cycles are quite consistent so there is no need to change time to match the daylight hours.
There are two approaches as to how to deal with the time change. One being “set it and forget it” and the other being “easy does it”. Some people find it easier to change the clocks, stop thinking about it, and transition to the new time ASAP. Others like to gradually shift their daily activities such as wake and bedtime, meals, sporting activities etc. You may find it beneficial to start making those adjustments, say 10-15 minutes per day, on the Thursday or Friday before the Sunday time change so you will be ready to go come Monday morning.
Another idea is to make sure you and your family members are as active as you can be on the Saturday and Sunday of the time change weekend so you will go to bed tired & ready to sleep. Also, don’t over think this. When we go on holiday, we are often faced with several hours of time shift and don’t let this ruin our vacation. Regardless of your preference, we still need a good night’s sleep, so don’t forget proper sleep hygiene. Make sure alarm clocks are set, and timers on medical equipment or other devices have been programmed properly. Time change can be challenging, but like holiday travel, our bodies do adjust to changes in time better than we may realize.
