Staying Motivated after Daylight Savings Time Change
Posted: November 8, 2019 | By: Stacy Croninger
It’s fall and in the US, the time changes to Daylight Savings Time, which means turning the clocks back. Getting an extra hour of sleep may sound heavenly, but it can also mess with your workout routine, sleep, and energy levels. So how does one stay motivated to keep exercising when there’s less light each day? Here are a few ideas.
Light
Your body’s circadian rhythm is driven by light. According to WebMD, “moving our clocks in either direction changes the principal time cue — light — for setting and resetting our 24-hour natural cycle, or circadian rhythm. In doing so, our internal clock becomes out of sync or mismatched with our current day-night cycle.” To help with this, get as much light as possible when you wake up and throughout the day.
Sleep
Ensuring that your body is getting the sleep it needs is key to staying motivated. You may have stayed up late the night before the time changing thinking you’d make up for it the next day, but changing your normal sleep times and patterns can affect how you adjust to the time change. Try and get back to your normal sleep times as quickly as possible and make sure you’re getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night. If you have a hard time falling asleep after the time change, try making your room darker or wearing a eye mask, resist the urge to take an afternoon nap, or create a calming routine for bed time like a relaxing bath or meditation.
Workout
There are many reasons to workout in the morning. After the fall time change, having more light in the morning makes a morning exercise session more enticing, especially if you are running, biking, walking, etc. outside. This doesn’t mean you can’t workout in the evenings, but you’ll need to take extra precautions like wearing clothing that can be seen in the dark and wearing layers to avoid cold air.
Women’s Running suggests, “For many, energy levels are low due to lack of sleep during the first week of Daylight Saving; if this is the case, reducing the level of intensity and time is a good idea during the first week,” shares Costello. “It is not the time to attempt personal bests or records in the gym while your body is adjusting to a new schedule.” If you have an exercise routine, keep it going with the caveat to cut yourself some slack if you don’t feel as motivated as you have in the past. Keeping your routine will help you keep your habit going, which is easier than trying to start it again.
Pick Me Up
Your body is used to eating, sleeping, exercising, working, and more at specific times. Changing your clock by an hour can cause your internal clock to look for food and sleep at different times. If you have an afternoon slump time or waking up is a struggle, Youngevity has you covered. Start your day off right with Wake Well, a combination fo superfoods and flavonoids to help jumpstart your mind, body, and day. For an afternoon pick me up, try one of the Pollen Burst products that includes powerful antioxidants for sustained energy without the crash. Or maybe Power-up Superfood Chews is what you need for an anytime, anywhere energy boost. These are just a few options that Youngevity offers. Give one a try for a day filled with energy and focus that can fight off time change stumbling blocks.
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