Daylight savings coming to SC fast. Here’s when & how to adjust to the change before it’s too late
It’s that annual time for South Carolinians to begrudgingly ruin their sleep schedules.
Or is it?
South Carolina and the rest of the U.S. have again nearly reached the start of another daylight saving time.
Daylight saving is set to begin at 2 a.m. on Sunday, requiring Americans to “spring forward” and set their clocks ahead one hour. We’ve been without daylight saving time since Nov. 5.
The practice of moving clocks ahead or back one hour each year has deprived many Americans of sleep for decades — so much that some state and federal lawmakers have tried to stop it. So far, their efforts have been less than fruitful.
So while the time change is happening again no matter what, there are steps folks can take to reduce the damage to their sleep cycles.
Here are five tips the Farmers’ Almanac suggests people try to stave off daylight saving fatigue.
Good bedtime habits
In the days after the time change, stop drinking caffeinated beverages 4 to 6 hours before bedtime. Avoid alcohol in the evening. Also, if you exercise, avoid workouts within 4 hours bedtime. Working out raises your body temperature temporarily, which can make it harder to fall asleep.
Get consistent sleep
Get at least 7 hours of sleep on the days before and after the time change. The closer you stick to your normal routine, the faster your body will adjust.
If you really have trouble with the time changes, consider gradually adjusting your sleep and wake times a few days in advance by shifting bedtime 15 to 20 minutes each night. This could help your body slowly adjust.
Keep dinnertime consistent and eat more protein
On the days around the time change, eat at the same time or even a little early. Try to shift your mealtime forward 15 minutes for a few days in a row to help ease the transition.
Also, try not to overeat and if you do feel like having a snack, choose one high in protein instead of carbohydrates.
Take a short nap
If you’re starting to stack up sleepless hours, it could be beneficial to take a short nap during the day instead of continuing without any sleep. Try not to take naps longer than 20 minutes though.
Get more sunlight
Go outside and expose yourself to morning sunlight on Sunday to help regulate your internal clock. Having shorter daylight hours can impact our mood and energy levels, decreasing serotonin.
Try to take some time out of your morning or early afternoon for a walk outside while the sun is out.
This story was originally published March 4, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
