(March 4, 2024) — It’s almost “spring forward” time. Daylight Savings Time begins on March 10 this year. Even though you may be losing an hour of sleep, there are things you can do to make the time change easier on your body, according to Dr. Anuj Chandra with the Advanced Center for Sleep Disorders.

“Most people think the clock change is annoying, but it can actually cause serious health problems,” said Dr. Chandra. Any sudden disruption to your normal sleep schedule can cause or contribute to serious problems, including increased driving accidents, increased workplace accidents, lower school performance, and even a small increase in heart attacks.

Tips To Get Ready for the Time Change

Here are tips from Dr. Chandra to reduce the impact of the time change and get more sleep throughout the year:

• Prepare your Body — “Go to bed a few minutes early for a day or two before the time changes. An hour would be great, but even 15 minutes can help,” said Dr. Chandra.
• No naps — “Napping makes it harder for your body clock to reset, so it works against you in the long run,” said Dr. Chandra.
• Turn off your screens — “Turn off all electronic devices — anything with a screen — at least one hour before you go to bed. The blue-spectrum light that comes from screens reduces your body’s production of melatonin at night, when you need it to help you fall asleep,” said Dr. Chandra.