self care as we spring ahead

Again, how is it I am surprised…twice a year the clocks get moved forward or back an hour.  This has happened every year of my life! This day light saving event continues to baffle me, disrupts the delicate balance my system needs to function and it takes days for things to re-regulate!  

I have found that many people have similar experiences when the clocks are moved that simple, short hour.   People report feelings of fatigue, sleepiness and exhaustion.  

But we do welcome this extra hour of sunlight at the end of our day in mid-March.  The past couple of weeks in the New York area have been up and down when it comes to rain/snow, sun/clouds and a big range of temperatures.   

The extra hour of daylight is a small temptation of things to come. Spring is in the air… and new life begins to pop up, crocuses burrow out of the soil, buds appear on the trees, neighbors take more leisurely walks again, and our beloved yoga studio will reopen!

So to slide more gracefully into this weekend’s time shift and into the following week, remember a couple of tips to assist in your transition:

• Pick a reasonable bedtime, and stick with the time for the next couple of weeks. 

• Wake up the same time each morning

• Early morning, expose yourself to 10 minutes of sunshine.  Let that sun shine right into your eyes!

• Avoid an afternoon nap

• This is a big one…limit your screen time, and stop 2 hours before bed, and always keep your devices outside the bedroom while sleeping!

Happy spring!