Time change: summer is coming

As usual every year in Europe we are approaching the date of the time change that will accompany us throughout the summer.

The time change is a date that we give ourselves twice a year. The time that will accompany us during the spring and summer changes between Saturday and Sunday, the last Sunday of March, precisely at 2:00 on Sunday, March 29, 2020.

Since we will have to move forward one hour, we will sleep one hour less, but we will have one hour more before sunset. Daylight Saving Time will last until the last Sunday in October, when Daylight Saving Time will come back into effect.

Sunrise and sunset will be an hour later than the previous day, resulting in more daylight in the afternoon and as we approach June 21 the days will get much longer.

What effect can the time change have on our body?

The time change has repercussions on our organism, especially in the first weeks. In fact, some people complain of disturbances due to variations in the sleep-wake cycle. Thus, the body may react with insomnia, fatigue and irritability.

The extra hour of light we will have delays the falling asleep phase, linked to the production of melatonin favored precisely by darkness. Hence the risk of insomnia.

Fatigue, stress, malaise

Sleeps worse

Sleeping one hour less seems like a minor thing, but the sleep debt is not limited to that day only. The transition period is for many people much longer and is valid both for the transition from daylight saving time to summer time and vice versa.

We sleep less and sleep may be more disturbed.

The impact of daylight saving time on our body is due to the circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates many cyclical functions of our body. Melatonin, one of the substances involved, is synthesized when it gets dark and promotes sleep. The problem with the beginning of daylight saving time is that the sun rises later, making it difficult to wake up. While at night the light lasts longer, it again confuses the body at the right time to go into “sleep” mode. Those most sensitive to the effects of daylight saving time “jet lag” seem to be people who tend to wake up earlier. In general, some people take up to three weeks to get used to it, others only need one day.

Farewell to concentration
Less sleep, or disturbed sleep, also means excessive tiredness, loss of concentration and productivity at work.

Increased agitation and irritability
The lost hour adds stress to stress and increases its devastating effects on the health of the most sensitive and vulnerable people.

How to ‘reprogram’ the body’s internal clock more easily
The advice is, first of all, to keep the time when you wake up in the morning unchanged, so as not to disrupt the regularity of the sleep-wake cycle. It is also helpful not to overdo it with food and alcohol in the evening. To allow the body to adapt, it is recommended to postpone meals and bedtime slightly and gradually, for example, by a quarter of an hour. Avoid going to sleep too early to make sure you do not wake up when morning is still far away.

The help of flower essences in the change of schedule
To help you during this time of adaptation and to restore calm, we recommend Findhorn’s specific formula based on Seasonal Affections flower essences.

Another essence that usually comes in handy during time changes and helps to regulate and balance the circadian rhythm is Bon Voyage.

 

As always, at Aurum Wellbeing we are at your complete disposal for any questions or doubts you may have.

You can contact us through our usual channels and means: info@aurumwellbieng.com or by phone: +34 664477019.