Remote Work Life

This weekend, plenty of people are ready to set those clocks back for Daylight Saving time and get another hour of shut-eye.Whether you gain or lose an hour, the time change can affect you longer than you think.Physician Assistant Jessica Newman with Novant Health said you can prepare your bodies now to beat the clock. She said people often discredit how much sleep can impact all aspects of our health. During “fall back” we experience earlier sunrise, but it gets dark earlier. Newman explained, human circadian clocks are adjusted by the sun and determine natural needs like sleep, so the time change can throw our bodies off for up to a week. So you need to start adjusting now. Follow these good nighttime habits:Newman said adults need seven to nine uninterrupted hours of sleep, and kids need even more.Limit caffeine and alcohol before bedTurn off your phones at least 30 minutes before sleepingMake sure your room is cool and dark, with no distractionsShe added, your sleep can also impact your mental health. Its dark at 5 pm. We still have activities after work. Were still doing things. And that darkness early in the evening can effect those with seasonal affective disorder. Particularly anxiety or depression, she said.Newman said people’s natural inclination at this time of year is to cozy up under a blanket and stay inside. Doing the opposite will help you adjust.”Theres something special about the suns energy and how it interacts with our bodys circadian brain hormones that just cannot be reproduced with fluorescent lighting,” she said. She said getting outside during the early morning hours for some quality Vitamin D, even just during a lunch break or walk, can do wonders for helping your body during this change.Newman also said high-sodium before bed can disrupt sleep. So try to eat whole, non-processed foods and drink lots of water.And don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour on Sunday, November 3rd at 2 a.m.!