Remember to Spring Forward!

I know it’s not officially spring for a couple of weeks, but getting an extra hour of daylight is cause for celebration in my book. So don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before you go to bed Saturday night. And then let the sun shine!

Of course, there is a drawback to starting Daylight Saving Time and losing that hour. More than likely, your sleep schedule will take a few days to adjust, and Monday morning you may be dragging as you try to start your day an hour earlier.

Studies show that there’s an increase in car accidents on the Monday after Daylight Saving Time takes effect. Driving while sleepy can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.

So help yourself enjoy the longer days by following these steps this weekend:

• Set an alarm so you wake up a half hour earlier than normal Saturday, then add an extra half hour to that Sunday morning.
• Go to bed half an hour earlier Saturday night, then add an extra half hour to that Sunday night.
• Take advantage of the extra hour of daylight on Sunday evening, and take a nice long walk after dinner. Exercise will tire you out and help you sleep better.
• Whatever you do, don’t nap! You want to be able to go to sleep on time Sunday night, and napping will ruin those plans for sure.

And don’t worry too much if you don’t feel like your usual perky self at the beginning of the week. Your body will adjust before you know it, and you’ll be back in the swing of things in no time at all!