It’s here, some people’s favorite weekend between Halloween and Thanksgiving –- the end of Daylight Saving Time.
Remember to “fall back” this Sunday – most of our nation gets a bonus.
But don’t make a common mistake: Turning that extra hour into an extra hour of sleep. We’ll explain, but first, the basics.
November 4 at 2 a.m., most of the country will move from Daylight Saving Time (DST) to Standard Time (ST).
No. If you live in Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and most of Arizona, your clocks will stay the same. For the rest of you –- enjoy your bonus hour.
Janet Kennedy, PhD., clinical psychologist and founder of NYC Sleep Doctor, says the best strategy is to switch to the new time right away — stick to the clock.
“Some people gain an hour of sleep the first night whereas others wake earlier because 6 a.m. feels like 7 a.m. Regardless, stick to your usual schedule and do not go to bed early the following night. Avoid napping and extra caffeine, which can make it harder to fall asleep at the ‘right’ time,” Kennedy said. “It can take up to a week to fully adjust, so don’t be alarmed if you feel sluggish in the meantime.”
“Absolutely — we are creatures of habit! Transitions to new schedules take time. Even a change of one hour can make a difference,” said Rebecca Robbins, Ph.D., co-author of “Sleep for Success,” and a post-doctoral research fellow at NYU School of Medicine.
Her research identifies strategies for improving sleep and health.
“Resist the urge to sleep in on Sunday and instead keep your normal bedtime the night before the time change then wake up — perhaps without an alarm — on Sunday and start your day by walking outside,” Robbins added. “It will likely be early, but getting up and going about your day will help you adjust to an earlier schedule of sleep and wakefulness.”
Probably not. The best example of this is “sleeping in,” the weekend temptation we all face without the need to rise early for work or school. It comes with the trap to “catch up” on sleep.
But this is a myth, Robbins says.
“If we delay our bed or rising time by even one hour our body goes into transition mode, trying to transition to a new time zone,” Robbins said. “The best way to recover from insufficient sleep is to keep your sleep schedule as consistent as possible. If you wake up at 6 a.m. during the workweek, you can sleep until perhaps 6:45 a.m. on the weekends but not much longer.
“Then pay back your ‘sleep debt’ with a power nap or better yet a siesta, which is a nap that is 90 minutes in duration in the afternoon,” Robbins continued. “This will allow you to recover from cutting sleep short during the week without negatively impacting your sleep schedule.”
Children are acutely aware of changes to their sleep schedule. They will likely keep you honest and wake you up at their normal time!
What this means for parents is that it will be important to resist the urge to stay up a bit later. Keep your regular bedtime, put the kids to bed at the regular time, and wake up at your regular time.
“During winter months we have evidence that we sleep longer. In some ways, this could be viewed as hibernation of sorts,” Robbins said. “Without access to sunlight, our bodies have less ability to fully understand when it should be alert and when it should be tired.
“To ensure your circadian rhythm remains intact, go outside when the sun is out as often as you are able, and optimally first thing in the morning. This will trigger the alert phase of your circadian rhythm, then an afternoon walk — even if it seems to be gray outside — will help your sleep and wake phases stay intact,” Robbins added.
Look on the bright side, Robbins continued.
“Colder temperatures can bring about a cozy atmosphere. Develop winter habits with your family that center around lighting candles or a fire and spending time together off of screens,” she advised. “This can offer tremendous health benefits that may counteract the drawbacks of less sunlight.”
“With the change of seasons … consider a bedroom refresh,” Robbins added. “Is your bedroom cozy and optimized for rest and relaxation? If not consider refreshing your mattress, pillows, or sheets.”
Eric M. Strauss in the managing editor of the ABC News Medical Unit and welcomes you to share your sleep strategies at @ericMstrauss.