CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, Nov. 3, which means we’ll gain an hour of sleep as clocks “fall back” one hour.
But with it getting darker earlier at night, many people are wondering how this affects our natural sleep patterns and if there’s any impact on our health.
OUR SOURCES
- Dr. Alicia Roth, sleep psychologist with the Cleveland Clinic
- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Since 1966, we have been falling back or springing forward for daylight saving time. Although some states have made a push to make daylight saving time permanent, both North Carolina and South Carolina adhere to the twice-yearly time change.
But is falling back to standard times better for our health?
“This change from daylight saving time back to standard time is a better change for our sleep,” Roth said. “It’s not because we gain an hour, it’s because we’re going back to standard time. Scientists, researchers and clinicians in the sleep world all agree it’s the best time for our bodies.”
Roth says because there is more light in the morning, it signals our bodies to wake up, while earlier darkness helps our bodies produce melatonin for sleep.
However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine says any change in our sleep patterns requires an adjustment period. Experts recommend adjusting the time you wake up and go to bed two-to-three days before the time change to get your body prepared. Roth says the best thing you can do is go straight to bed once you get tired at night.
“The golden rule for sleep is never to get into bed until you’re very sleepy,” Roth said. “So don’t get into bed and try to get sleepy. Don’t get into bed hoping you’ll get to sleep. Only go to bed once you are feeling sleepy.”
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