On Sunday March 13 Most of America Will Be Springing Ahead

Spring is coming! For those in northern climates that may mean no more snow and warmer temps. One thing is for sure. Come this Sunday, most Americans will be setting their clocks one hour ahead as part of Daylight Saving Time. How do you adjust to the time change?

According Dr. Shyam Subramanian, a Baylor College of Medicin Professor, most people adjust to Daylight Saving Time in a couple of days. However, there is a higher incidence of workplace and occupational accidents during the weeks around this time. In an interview with Houston Chronicle Reporter Todd Ackerman, "Losing an hour of sleep contributes to sleep debt," says Dr. Subramanian. "If you don't make up the debt, it manifests in waking up tired, needing a lot of caffeine to get going, nodding off during the day."

On WebMD, they suggest that you can reset your internal clock to adapt more quickly to the time change by 1) exposing yourself to light during the waking hours as much as possible and...to limit exposing yourself to bright light when it is dark outside, and 2) being mindful of your sleep hygiene. Reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol...even exercising...several hours before bedtime, create a calming ritual before bed to gradually relax yourself, go to bed and rise at the same time each day, etc.

Be sure to change your clocks--so you're not late to important activities--but also take care to get the sleep you need to stay healthy.