Springing Ahead

Our sleep is precious. If you ever had any doubt as to how precious, just talk to someone the morning after daylight savings. Yesterday, we all woke up a little groggy, confused as to what time it really was and we all missed that hour of sleep that was stolen away from us. 

In Why We Sleep, Dr. Matthew Walker explains that there are more instances of heart attacks and car crashes when we spring ahead. We’re such creatures of habit, no wonder fast forwarding an hour ahead throws us all off. 

This isn’t a blog about writing your congress person to ditch the outdated idea, instead, it’s an appeal that you just need to deal with it. Over the past decade as a coach and trainer, every time we spring ahead our clocks I notice the changes in people the next few days after. The people who groan about it, how it throws their routine off, are more disrupted than those who just accept it is 6am now and not actually 5am. 

If you’re still dragging and feel off. Be sure to expose yourself to morning and evening light to help regulate your circadian rhythm, your body can use the sun to wake up or wind down. Shut the screens down tonight and open up a book to try and wind down so you can get to bed at a regular time. Ridiculous idea or not, we need to be able to adapt to it. 

Justin Miner

@justinminergain