Not gonna lie: when we set the clocks back, it might be one of the most underrated holidays of the year. Extra sleep, you don’t have to eat a heavy meal with problematic relatives, and nothing to buy? Let’s do this every week!
But seriously… every year when the clocks fall back for Daylight Savings Time, it’s very easy to feel out of sorts. That first night might feel OK, but if you fail to manage it properly (perhaps with an extra late night out with friends?), you’re going to start feeling sluggish during the day and restless at night. Combine that with less sunshine and holiday season stress, and it can easily lead to junk sleep and a worse quality of life. That’s really not helpful during some of the busiest times of the year, especially if you have any past issues with sleep.
And let’s face it… if you are on this site, you probably have some past issues with sleep.
So, here’s what we recommend.
- Even though the change happens all at once to your clock, you don’t have to follow the same rules. Try to spread things out by adjusting your bedtime by 15 minutes for four straight nights and make the change less abrupt. It also helps if you don’t make weekdays and weekends wildly different.
- Step up your sleep hygiene with better control of your environment. Move your phone out of reach, block off any odd rays of light and sound, and don’t short-change your sleep cycles. Your body needs a full and uninterrupted period of rest.
- Consider taking melatonin for a period of time. Melatonin is particularly useful for re-setting your circadian rhythm--when you travel across time zones, with an irregular sleep pattern, and in situations exactly like daylight savings. And if you're going this route, best to give your body a blend of immediate release and extended release melatonin to better mimic that natural pattern over the whole night, like we have in Sonnet Sleep + Restore.
Keep in mind that if you struggle to fall asleep, you’re in the right place. The temptation to use a heavy-duty sleep aid is very understandable, but it’s also something you need to resist. Those often come with side effects, artificial ingredients, and a snowball effect of sleep aids at bedtime, and stimulants to counter the grogginess from the sleep aids the rest of the day.
For a more sustainable approach during challenging times, lean on Sonnet. Our three formulations cover different needs, but each one is all-natural, non-habit forming, and safe to use for as long as you like. Most of our users get back to normal with a fairly quick reset, but if your plans and sleep cycle gets upset again, Sonnet will still work for you.
So, to sum up, don’t fear the shorter daylight hours and busy holiday season. With just a little planning and Sonnet, you can live with your best life, even when the days get short. We’re on your side, even when the calendar isn’t!