The clocks change twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn. In the spring, the clocks are set forward an hour to make use of more daylight in the evenings. In the autumn, the clocks are set back an hour to save electricity and make use of more natural light in the mornings.
Though it may only be an hour difference, it can have a big impact on your body. You might suffer from fatigue, insomnia and headaches, whilst it can completely ruin your usual routine. Luckily, there are some things you can do to recover from the time change and get back on track:
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Take CBD oil
A Danish study published in the journal Epidemiology found an 11% increase in depression amongst the population after the clocks change in the spring. CBD oil, however, has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of conditions, including depression. If you’re having trouble adjusting to the time change, oil from cbd may be able to help. CBD oil can help promote relaxation, which may make it easier to fall and stay asleep. It can also help reduce inflammation, which may help you feel more comfortable during the day if your eyes are puffy and your muscles are aching. If you’re interested in trying CBD oil, talk to your doctor first to make sure it’s right for you.
Get plenty of sleep
Research has shown a significant increase in traffic accidents the day after the clocks change. Tiredness is thought to be the main factor in this increase, with millions losing a whole hour sleep. Huge numbers of the population are already sleep deprived, getting less than 6 hours sleep per night, so one hour less is enough to lead to serious accidents. To avoid walking into a lamp post the morning after the change, get plenty of sleep in the week leading up to it. This will help you to adjust more easily and make up for any lost sleep.
Adjust slowly
Gradually adjust your schedule in the days leading up to the time change. This will help ease your body into the new schedule and minimise the effects of jet lag. On the first Monday after the start of the new time, it’s common to see an increase in workplace injuries, and the injuries that occur are often of greater severity when compared to those that occur on normal Mondays. We all know that Mondays can be hard, but don’t push yourself or your staff too hard the day after the clocks change. Consider updating your risk assessment to take the day into account and leave particularly dangerous tasks for another day when everyone is recovered.
Don’t overdo it
A Swedish study by Imre Janszky, M.D., Ph.D. and Rickard Ljung, M.D., Ph.D. found that the risk of having a heart attack increases significantly in the first three days after switching to the new time in the spring. Avoid strenuous activity and caffeine in the 24 hours after the time change. You should also avoid alcohol and recreational drugs – you don’t want to shock your body any more than it’s already been shocked. This will help you avoid any serious health issues and will help you to adjust faster.
Get outside
Get outside and enjoy natural light as much as possible. This will help reset your body’s internal clock and make it easier to adjust to the new schedule. Exposure to early morning light has been shown to have a notable positive impact on energy levels, so try to get into the sun as soon as you can after you wake up. Even five minutes of daylight whilst you have breakfast can boost serotonin levels for the day, helping you to feel more at ease with the new time.
Be patient
Be patient with yourself and give yourself time to adjust. It can take a few days for your body to get used to the new schedule, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re feeling off at first. Remember, everyone is in the same boat, and if they say they feel fine, they probably aren’t!
Overall
Adjusting to the clocks changing twice a year can be challenging, but there are things you can do to make it easier. Hopefully the tips above will help to speed up the process, but be patient with yourself and you’ll be back on track in no time (excuse the pun).
