St. John's Hospital Springfield Illinois issued the following announcement on Nov. 4
As Sunday, November 7 approaches, it’s important to begin preparing yourself and kids for the return to Standard Time. Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November, which means most of the country will turn clocks back one hour.
Adults should get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night. However, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one in three adults does not get that much sleep on a regular basis, which negatively affects cognitive performance and physical health.
Connie Enlow, lead sleep technologist for HSHS St. John’s Hospital Sleep Center, says you should go to bed 10-15 minutes later the week before DST ends to prepare yourself for the time change. This allows your body and brain to adjust slowly rather than in just one night. It’s also important to stay in a bedtime and wake time routine after the clocks fall back because it helps the brain prepare for sleep.
Enlow also says light is a big environmental factor in your quality of sleep.
“In the winter we lose daylight so it’s darker earlier which makes our bodies tired earlier,” she says. “Expose yourself to more light during the daytime hours to make the adjustment a little easier on your internal clock.”
Other tips to achieve quality sleep include:
- Limit the use of electronics one hour prior to bed to prepare your body and brain for sleep
- Do not go to bed hungry; eat a light, healthy snack at least 30 minutes before bed if necessary
- Keep the bedroom temperature cooler than the rest of the house, if possible
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol and exercise close to bedtime
If you suspect you have a sleep disorder, talk to your primary care physician.
Original source can be found here.
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