October 25, 2022
It’s Time to Set the Clocks Back Again: How to ‘Fall Back’ Properly for the End of Daylight Saving Time
The twice-yearly exercise of switching the clocks back has become so unpopular, that Congress may strike it down and stick with Daylight Saving Time permanently. The U.S. Senate passed a measure in March 2022 to stay on DST starting in 2023, but as of October 2022, it has yet to be scheduled for debate in the House of Representatives.
In the meantime, we’ll have to deal with “falling back” to rejoin standard time. That means an extra hour of sleep on the day of the change, but it can leave people feeling lethargic with earlier mornings and sunset occurring before many even eat dinner.
In order to make the transition an easier one, CHC has a look at three strategies that can let you “fall back” without falling back too far.
- Work Around the Extra Sleep
If you’re one who can get some extra sleep, go ahead and enjoy sleeping in for the extra “free” hour. If you’re more of a creature of habit who wants to get up at the same time every day, you can split the difference—go to bed a half-hour later and get up a half-hour earlier. If you prefer to get the same amount of sleep every night, go to bed an hour later and get up at your normal time.
- Try to Get Some Exercise in the Morning
If your afternoon routine is thrown off by the early sunset, move your outside time to the morning. Getting a dose of sunlight early on will help your mood throughout the day and can actually help you sleep better at night. If you have trouble adjusting to the morning workout time, listen to some music that will boost your mood and get you moving around before you head outside.
- Find a New Creative Outlet
Instead of lamenting the fact that the pleasant part of the fall season is over and winter is looming by eating more and binging on TV shows, go ahead and embrace the new season by putting your creative energies to use. Seek out a new hobby, take an art or cooking class, or find something that you enjoy doing in the cold-weather months and focus on now being able to do that instead of dwelling on what was lost.
