St. Patrick's Day Traditions
If you’ve been here for a minute, you know how much we love holidays at KJ, big or small! St. Patrick’s day is on the way and we couldn’t be more excited. There are so...
Surviving Daylight Savings
Next week our clocks move forward an hour and if you’re anything like us, you have mixed feelings about it. We’re always looking forward to spring and the warmth + swimmers it brings, but we’re not fans of losing an hour of sleep. Losing that one little hour of sleep can affect our productivity, concentration, as well as our mental health. So we’re coming at you with six ways you can join us in surviving daylight savings this week. With any luck, we’ll find ways to beat those groggy mornings and have the energy to take on the rest of March! .
Get to Bed Earlier
What better way to ease yourself into a change in your sleep habits than to start your nighttime routine 15 earlier? We recommend starting now, in the days leading up to the start of daylight saving time. We’re thinking about you mamas! Starting your little ones bedtime routine 15 minutes earlier now may help them ease their circadian rhythm to the new time.
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Enjoy Your Longer Evenings
One of the greatest parts about spring and daylight savings is that there is more sunlight! One of the best ways to survive the change in our sleep schedule is to enjoy the natural light that we finally have outside! That means it’s time to open your curtains or head outdoors to enjoy the sunshine. Let this valued sunlight naturally reset your body clock. In the mornings, let natural light come into your bedroom to help you wake up alert.
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Avoid Screens Before Bed
If you’re one to use TV or your phone to help you unwind for the night, you may be making it harder to fall asleep. Screens can stimulate your brain, making it believe that it’s still daytime. As you’re getting ready for daylight savings (and even after the clocks have changed) try avoiding screens at least 1-2 hours before bed. Doing so will help your body and mind feel more tired around the time you want to fall asleep.
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Be Mindful of Food + Drink
Did you know that spicy and fatty foods can lead to indigestion and insomnia? We may need to say goodbye to the snacks right before bedtime, especially during daylight savings time. It’s also a good idea to avoid caffeine during the day, so you can fall asleep more easily when bedtime does come around. As crazy as it sounds, try drinking more water than soda during daylight savings, no matter how tempting that Dr. Pepper may be.
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Get Your Body Moving
When you're tired from a daylight savings schedule, exercise may be the last thing you want to do. However, being physically active is always good for your health and typically helps you sleep better. So get outside, expose yourself to natural sunlight, and produce those endorphins! We recommend not working out too close to your bedtime, giving yourself at least two hours to “cool down” before bedtime.
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Be Consistent
Getting out of bed at the same time every morning is even more important than going to bed at the same time every night. As you're gearing up for daylight savings, make sure you wake up at the same time every morning leading up to it, even on weekends! Sleeping in always feels great in the short-term, but can cause difficulties falling asleep and waking up during the week. And avoid taking naps if it’s not already a part of your usual routine.
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Take that daylight savings! Maybe we were super tired and grumpy last year, but not this time around! Hopefully these six tips will help you survive losing one hour of sleep and minimize the dreariness that daylight savings can sometimes bring. Say hello to a great transition into more sunshine and spring! Which tips will you try next? Or what tips do you think we should add to our list? Let us know below!
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xoxo
Kortni + Team
- Tags: KJ Everyday
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