Even though your clock will only change by an hour for Daylight Savings Time, either when falling back or springing forward – the effects of it can certainly be noticeable. The time change can affect your sleep negatively as your body’s circadian rhythm, or internal clock, could be thrown off course. This can affect how much and when melatonin is released as well.

A big factor important to regulating your sleep patterns is light. Light serves as a principal timing cue for your circadian rhythm. In the time before springing forward, it was probably light outside at the time you normally awoke, which helps your body activate regions of the brain involved in stimulating energy. After springing forward, you gain an hour of light in the afternoon but lose it in the morning, which could result in your body’s internal clock not being ready to get up when the alarm goes off.

This is why it’s usually harder to adjust in the spring than it is in the fall. During fall back, people tend to wake up earlier than needed, are more likely to awaken during the night, and can experience difficulty falling asleep even though they “gain” an hour of sleep.

A few days after Daylight Savings Time, your body should normally adjust to the new time schedule. But you can also plan ahead and prepare for gaining an hour of sleep (or losing an hour) so your body can adjust faster. If you are already sleep-deprived before Daylight Savings, you can experience heightened negative effects from the time changes, such as lowered concentration, performance, and extra fatigue.

The Fall Back time this year will be on November 3^rd so be sure to set a reminder to reset your clocks! If you’re feeling restless on your current mattress on a regular basis, it might be time to replace it. Visit a Factory Mattress location today to find the perfect mattress for your sleeping needs!

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