Tips from Sleep Number on Resetting Your Sleep Clock
Daylight Savings Time brings about a lot of changes. In the Spring – we see longer days. In the Fall – shorter days of daylight. It’s a great time to remember to replace your smoke detector batteries and fire extinguishers. And don’t forget to change the clocks! Yes, I’m bad at the last one – sometimes it’s weeks before they all get changed.
Though, I think the worst thing about Daylight Savings Time is how it messes our sleeping up. I am not bothered too much by it – but let me tell you as far as my kids – it’s a two-week battle getting them back on track. Of course, the teen doesn’t believe mom knows what she’s talking about; therefore she comes home from school exhausted wanting to take a nap. I let her – because if I don’t – life isn’t all that much of a pleasure.
There are proven facts of what can help one with resetting their sleep clock. These tips from Sleep Number from Sleep Number’s new sleep survey on resetting your sleep clock may be just what you need if you suffer from the change. The teen – she’s going to be reading these – maybe she’ll listen to Sleep Number (mom can only hope).
o 15 more minutes According to new national sleep survey from Sleep Number, over half (54 percent) of the respondents don’t feel they are getting enough sleep to be at their best. And when we lose an hour of sleep due to DST beginning, that sleep loss is even more evident. To make the time adjustment easier, don’t boil the ocean; start going to bed 15 minutes earlier than the night before… do this for 3-4 days.
o Live in the future. On Saturday, live your life as if it’s already an hour ahead. For example, drink your last cup of coffee at 11 am (because that is really noon). Since caffeine has an approximate half-life of 6 hours, you don’t want to consumer caffeine after noon as it may impede your sleep.
o Put down the screens. Survey results indicate that people who use devices in bed are more likely to feel they don’t get enough sleep (51 percent). Always make a screen-free zone about an hour before bedtime, which gives the eyes and mind time to relax before getting shut-eye (and allows the sleep hormone melatonin to trigger sleepiness). People in the Western region of the U.S. are the biggest tech-in-bed offenders, with 66 percent of respondents bringing devices to bed.
o Monitor sleep to improve it. Fifty-eight percent of people wish they knew more about how to improve the quality of their sleep, yet only 16 percent actually monitor their sleep (versus 41 percent who track exercise and 43 percent who track diet). And, women are more likely to focus on improving their sleep compared to men. Sleep Number’s SleepIQ technology offers a simple solution to those who want to know better sleep.
Visit the Sleep Number site to read more helpful tips on resetting your sleep clock.