Newswise — The changing of the clocks this weekend could mean a drowsy Monday for adults and children alike. Raman Malhotra, M.D. assistant professor of neurology at Saint Louis University and co-director of the SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center, said it takes the body about 24 hours to adjust to ‘springing forward’ and losing an hour of sleep.
“It takes the body a while to adjust so Monday morning could be a problem,” Malhotra said. “There have been studies finding a decreased level of productivity among workers and increased motor vehicle accidents due to drowsy driving.”
Malhotra recommends allowing the body to adjust gradually to the change by moving up your normal bedtime 15 minutes each night in the days before Daylight Saving Time begins in order to allow your body to adapt to the change.
Adults need at least 7 hours of sleep a night, Malhotra noted, basing his conclusions on the latest recommendations from the National Sleep Foundation. He added that sleeping in on the weekend to ‘catch-up’ on sleep can sometimes make Monday morning wake up times even harder.
Malhotra recommends those that want to get a good night’s sleep avoid alcohol, caffeine and electronic devices (due to light).
“Turn off your cell phones, iPads and televisions,” he said.
He also advises opening blinds and window shades in the morning after waking up in order to allow the natural light to help your body wake up.
Daylight Saving Time begins each year on the second Sunday in March at 2 a.m. and ends on the first Sunday in November.
The SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center is a state-of-the-art Sleep Center where patients are evaluated for an array of sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy.
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