Watertown— Say goodbye to the long evenings and cold weather, as daylight-saving time springs most of the country forward. Unfortunately, for some people longer days make for a restless night's sleep.
With the exception of Arizona (barring Navajo Nation) , Hawaii, and territories such as Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa- the rest of the U.S. will be setting their clocks an hour ahead this weekend.
According to research, the extra hour of sun from daylight-saving has been known to cause sleep disturbances. However, there are ways to prepare for a good night's rest, by following proper sleep hygiene. Proper sleep hygiene can help you avoid sleeplessness, due to the body adjusting to longer days and the awkwardness of acclimating to the new time change. Sleep hygiene is defined by the medical dictionary as, the maintenance of habits conducive to sound sleep and rest.
Daylight-saving time can often feel like jet lag to the body, according to medical professionals. It is said that taking melatonin can sometimes help realign the body back with its natural R.E.M. cycle. Once you get your body back into a healthy sleep routine, you can enjoy soaking up the sun as it melts the snow and warms the North Country.
Sleep Hygiene Tips, according to WebMD:
· Don't eat a heavy meal before bedtime.
· Don't drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol.
· Don't nap during the day, or at least keep it brief -- 10 to 15 minutes.
· Stop working on any task an hour before bedtime to calm down.
· Don't discuss emotional issues at bedtime.
· Make sure your sleep environment is comfortable.
· Don't turn lights on at night. Use a small night-light instead.
