Wow!
It’s that time of year again: summer time starts again this weekend. And although you would think that that one hour difference does not make much difference, it has a major impact on your body. We will tell you more about it.
Summer time: what was it again?
Daylight saving time only exists; since 1977. There was an energy crisis in the Netherlands at the time. By introducing daylight saving time, it would be an hour longer in the evening. Result: less energy consumption, because the lights can remain off longer. It had a positive effect not only financially, but also emotionally. The extra long evenings make many people feel like doing more things. Take a walk or relax on the terrace, you know how it is.
However, the hour less sleep also has disadvantages. We are taken out of our familiar 24-hour rhythm, which is an attack on our body. We feel tired, sometimes a bit sad and it is difficult for us to get into the new rhythm. The number of traffic accidents during rush hour, mistakes at work and heart attacks on the Monday after the start of summer time also increases by as much as five percent. The time change is therefore not without consequences.
To walk
Do you recognize the complaints that come with the change? There are several things you can do to ensure that you get back in line quickly. For example, a morning walk works wonders. By catching natural daylight in the morning, you ensure that your body produces melatonin in the evening. This makes you fall asleep easily. Tossing and turning in your bed for hours and looking in the mirror in the morning with a tired head will be a thing of the past.
No blue light
Another tip is to avoid blue light (from a smartphone, laptop, television or tablet) in the evening. It is of course very tempting to check out all social media in bed, but it is better not to do that. The blue light has the same effect as morning light. Thanks to that light, your brain receives a signal that it is not yet time to go to sleep, so you first stare at the ceiling.
Don’t sleep in too long
Even if you had a slightly shorter night due to summer time, try not to stay in bed for too long. If you sleep more than 1.5 hours in compared to the time you normally get up, you will only confuse your biological clock even more. In the long term, this will disrupt your rhythm and cause you to sleep poorly for several nights in a row.
Exercise to relax
Finally: relaxation exercises work wonders, just like walks. Do you get to bed on time, but you cannot fall asleep because your body does not yet realize that it is time to go to sleep? Then it’s not a bad idea to try such an exercise. Focus on your breathing and you will see that you become calmer, making it easier for you to go to dreamland.
Good luck!
Source: Marie Claire | Image: Adobe Stock
