It's time to spring forward. Daylight Saving Time is this Sunday and there are tips to help you adjust losing that hour of sleep.
Within the first three days of setting our clocks forward, the effects of Daylight Saving Time can be dangerous.
Dr. Michael Lefor, sleep specialist with the Oregon Clinic, says more traffic accidents and injuries on the job happen this time of year. To help avoid that, Lefor says to get up at your usual time for the first three days of the time change. That starts getting your internal clock back on track to where it should be, especially for your week going forward, because the time change is very similar to jet lag.
Lefor says if you feel tired, you should not take a nap. Taking naps will just reinforce your old sleep time and perpetuate the sleepiness you had on the first day of the time change. After about three days of getting up at the same time, not taking naps, and watching your alcohol and caffeine intake, you will start to feel like your normal self and get readjusted.
It's recommended to drink one to two cups of coffee max and cut it off by noon. Otherwise, you'll have a hard time getting to sleep the following night.