How To Adjust To Daylight Saving Time

During those six days, get some sunlight as soon as you get up and avoid light in the hours before bedtime. Controlling light intake helps your body’s internal clock adjust to the earlier waking and sleeping times.

Get some exercise on the afternoon before the 2 a.m. time change, like a brisk, 30-minute walk. Exercise releases serotonin, which helps advance your biological clock.

Take a melatonin supplement four or five hours before you go to bed on the night of the time change, to help you fall asleep; it’s sold over-the-counter at drug stores.

On the day of the time adjustment make sure you’re well rested before driving, and drive defensively. Studies show that car accidents increase the Monday after the clocks are pushed forward.

Take your time getting to work that first week after the clocks are reset, even if it means you’re late. Swedish researchers found that heart attacks increase during the week after daylight saving time begins. So make that your excuse to slow down for a few mornings; you’ve got the whole rest of the year to rush out the door.