Five ways to survive the end of daylight savings time
On Sunday, clocks are set to fall back one hour at 2 a.m. local time across Canada. Well, not completely across Canada: Most of Saskatchewan, small pockets of Quebec and BC, and Southampton Island in Nunavut don't follow daylight savings time. For the rest of us - sure, we get an extra hour, but it can also mess with the body clock. Here are some survival strategies.
1. Get lots of light when you wake up James MacFarlane, director of education at MedSleep, says the best way to adjust is to expose yourself to light first thing in the morning, sending a signal to your brain that the night’s over. Flipping on a lamp does the job.Comstock Images
2. Schedule regular meal times Breakfast “is your body's cue that the long fast is over," Dr. MacFarlane says. If your first real nosh isn't until lunch, your mind and body won't be in full-on awake mode until then. Likewise, late-night eating can confuse and stress your digestive system.Getty Images
3. Minimize caffeine If you need more than two cups a day, it's probably a sign that you're sleep-deprived, says David Schulman, the director of Emory University's sleep laboratory in Atlanta. Depending on stimulants such as coffee to keep your energy levels up means you’re always playing catch-up.Getty Images
4. Take a cue from your kids While clocks may rule how adults operate, kids let their bodies do the dictating. "They pay strict attention to their own body clock, which actually makes them much more aware and in tune with the things that are important," Dr. MacFarlane says.Getty Images
5. Get up when your alarm goes off Studies suggest the blare of alarm clocks can raise blood pressure and elevate your heart rate - so why subject yourself to it multiple times by hitting snooze? “If you aren't waking up before the alarm, you are sleep-deprived,” Dr. Schulman adds.Getty Images
And don't do this... Have a nightcap before bed. While it might help you fall asleep, it will just wake you up a few hours later.Getty Images