Your body and mind can thrive when you make your health a priority. You do not have to suffer during Daylight Saving Time.

Making a commitment, and being aware and prepared are the first steps.

I have done the research and tried the tips I am sharing in this blog. They work.

Daylight saving time is the yearly practice of moving clocks forward one hour in the Spring starting on the second Sunday in March and back one hour in the Fall starting on the first Sunday in November.

A simple way to remember is SPRING FORWARD, FALL BACK

The idea is that it allows us to make better use of natural daylight.

The United States (not including Arizona or Hawaii) adopted the practice during World War I (1914 – 1918). 

Altering our sleep cycle can have negative effects on our health. The adverse effects have the greatest impact on teenagers and those with poor sleep habits.

According to WebMD “Our internal clocks regulate processes including liver function, the immune system, and our body’s physiology, which means any disruption can have significant effects.”

Studies have linked Daylight Saving to: 

• Increased traffic accidents
• Increased strokes
• Increased rate of heart attacks
• Challenges for people with mood disorders

From the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November, we have darker mornings and more light in the evenings. 

Daylight Saving does not have to cause chaos in your sleep routine. You can choose to live a healthy lifestyle and practice healthy habits BEFORE Daylight Saving with a few simple adjustments to your routine.

The following tips work for kids and adults.

7 Tips to Help Your Body Adjust to Daylight Saving Time

1. Connect with your creator

• Seek the Lord in prayer
• Read the Bible
• Memorize Scripture and meditate on the goodness of God

2. Disconnect from technology

• Increase productivity
• Improve the quality of sleep
• Improve communication with loved ones – be present in the moment

3. Have a consistent nighttime and morning routine

• Gradually adjust your sleep routine 2 – 3 days before Daylight Saving
• Aromatherapy for natural sleep support (diffuse essential oils)
• Hot Epsom salt bath

4. Start your day with sunlight

• Spend 15 minutes in the sunlight in the morning
• Sunlight can alleviate feelings of tiredness and support mood
• Sunlight is the best Vitamin D for our bodies

5. Move your body daily

• Stretch (yoga, pilates)
• Cardio (walking, jogging, swimming)
• Strength training (weights to improve muscle health)

Using my self-care routine checklist helps me stay focused on moving my body and taking care of myself so I can better manage my home, health and ministry.

6. Feed your body good nutrition

• Eat more foods in their natural state (not chemically processed)
• Read food labels
• Meal prep and cook nutritious meals at home

I created a simple 3 step meal planning worksheet to help me ease the stress, plan weekly meals and shop for groceries.

7. Switch all clocks the night before

Comment below which healthy tip are you going to start today.