There’s been increasing interest in how Daylight Saving Time affects us since Eagle River Senator Anna MacKinnon introduced a bill to end the clock change as of New Year’s Day, 2017.
Kevin Phillips from the Alaska Sleep Clinic said modern man is already predisposed towards sleep issues…
Phillips: “You know, your body gets in sync with going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, which traditionally is based on light, but in a 24-hour society we have to change things up a bit. So a lot of times our circadian rhythms aren’t really matched up with societal demands. The changes in the light which add up a little bit, because all of a sudden we just jump forward, or roll back an hour. In the fall, it’s easier to adjust, because you gain an hour, so you get to catch up on sleep.”
Phillips said the effects don’t typically last long…
Phillips: “It takes about a day or two for each hour you lose to get your body back in sync with what you’re doing. So it’s not too big of a change, having an hour, but with a lot of people already not having enough sleep in their life, an hour can be s bigger impact.”
To help your body adjust to the new time, Phillips recommended getting outside in the light during the morning hours and avoiding light later in the evening. He said it’s also match your schedule to the time on the clock, not the time your body feels.