Do we really need Daylight Savings Time, or is it an outmoded form of siphoning off an extra bit of daylight here and there? The National Post this week called for an end to it, given that the difference in actual energy saving between us and Saskatchewan (that hasn't adopted DST) is hairline at best. Moreover, given the rise of technology that has provided contexts for more people to work away from an office allows them more flexibility for getting sunlight than ever before. The National Post's claim: do away with DST, return to standard time that places the sun at the top of the sky at noon, and let people sort out when and where to get it.
That said, we may be a ways off from moving away from DST, and, especially this year, find ourselves having to adjust once again to a time change. For some, the impact is minor, and yet for others, there are all kinds of effects from sleeplessness and fatigue, to migraines and even depression especially for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder in which light in the morning is better than light in the evening. Here are some tips to adjust to DST, if you haven't already:
1. Slowly adjust to the change: This may be too late this year, but can be noted for next, unless of course between now and then DST is brought to an end. Start going to bed 15 minutes earlier, then 30 minutes, then 45 minutes, etc until you've adjusted to the hour.
2. Nap: We have already read throughout this blog that naps are important, not only for brain functioning and lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke, but also for adjusting to DST. In fact, one way of changing poison to medicine is to use DST to kickstart your habit of getting in a 10-15 minute nap once a day.
3. Exercise: Getting in some form of workout--whether running, weights, or even walking--during the day will tire your body out and help you sleep better at night. But don't exercise too close to going to bed, for that may actually keep you awake.
4. Caffeine: Avoid drinking caffeine too close to going to bed. The temptation here is to drink a little more during the day than your normal dose to mitigate fatigue as a result of DST; however, that can actually have reverse effects. Remember: Caffeine is a very serious drug, and in fact is recorded in the DSM 5 (Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition from the American Psychiatry Association) as an addiction. As such, drinking more than you're used to can cause all kinds of physical, cognitive, and psychological disruptions.
5. Go to bed only when sleepy: You don't want to force the change. If you usually go to bed at 11:00 and you're not sleepy when it's 11:00 DST time, relax. Take a book to bed and read until you fall asleep, or listen to soft music--whatever gets you relaxed.
6. Take advantage of the longer evening: If you go to a workplace everyday, now's the time to enjoy that extra hour of daylight when you get home: you'll feel good, and, if you're seeking physical activity, you'll get your body ready for a good night sleep.
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