It's spring ahead Daylight Saving Time! That special time of the year when the loss of one hour of precious sleep kicks you right in the a**. I've put together a list of helpful tips and things to watch out for to get you through the next few days.
Drag your butt out of bed.
Yes, it's dark when you wake up now. No, the clock's not wrong. You still need to get up for work. The bright side to all of this is that spring is here!
Eat breakfast.
Even though you feel like you could crawl back into bed and sleep for a few more days, eat a proper breakfast to provide fuel for your busy day.
Drive safe today.
Studies have shown that the Monday following the spring Daylight Savings Time change, has seen a 17 percent increase in motor vehicle accidents. Sleep deprivation is the major contributor resulting in the statistical increase. Do your best to be sharp and focused while driving today.
Avoid Cranky people.
Watch out for serious crank pots today. Everyone's snooze button was working overtime this morning, so expect unusual irritability while people re-adjust their bodies bio-rhythms. Not the best time to ask for that raise or an extra vacation you've been longing for. Wait a week or two.
Stay on schedule.
For the first few days of the time change, I find myself looking at the time and thinking to myself, "but it's really an hour earlier". This causes me much confusion and chaos inevitably ensues. Better to stay the course.
Pick the kids up on time.
Now that the time change is in effect, the kids soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball practices can take place later and at the outdoor facilities. Don't be that mother sitting at the middle school waiting to pick up your child while your child is waiting to be picked up across town at the field. Make sure you get THAT e-mail today.
Limit your caffeine intake.
Thinking thoughts like, " the sun is still out so I can have that extra cup of joe" may work against you. Consuming caffeine later in the day is sure to wreak havoc on your already readjusting sleeping patterns.
Enjoy the extra hour of sunlight.
Fire up the grill! Nothing says spring and summer like the smell of burgers cooking on the gas grill. The best of spring is yet to come.
Get your sleep.
As I said before, stay on schedule. If bedtime rolls aroud 10 pm or later, don't kid yourself into thinking it's really 9 pm or an hour earlier. Stay the course because either way you pay. And when the clock strikes 6am the clock strikes 6am.
It's a harsh reality.
Happy Daylight Saving Time.
13 comments:
Yay for the PSA! I am totally on board with this. I am on a roll (well, is it really a roll if you've only done it for one day?); I got up when I said I would, I worked for a few hours, I exercised, and things are running lovely-y (is that a word?). Sheesh, sounds like I'm overly chipper...maybe I forgot the cut down on caffiene rule...
I was so worried about accidently sleeping in that I kept waking up during the night. 1am. Dammit! 2am. Crud! 3am. Oh NOOOO! 4am. *sigh* I am utterly exhausted and it's only 8am here! Things are looking to be interesting today. Luckily, I'm a nanny - I'm going to try to nap with the kids today if I can.
My question is, did Ms. Early Bird June Cleaver herself out of bed and treat everyone to cinnimon rolls this morning?
(Frick and Frack put me up to it. They pay well, too!
;-)
WV - Binveno = wine bin.
I can totally see you handing out this advice on the Today show, you need a network gig!
Thanks for the tips. I'm always on a natural high when the clocks go forward... it's just so nice having more daylight in the evenings!
Thanks for the comment on Taking chance, but I have it on tape now!
You lost me at "drag your butt out of bed."
It gives all the trampy housewives in the prior post an excuse to be half-nekkid when the Yard Guy arrives.
On behalf of all the Serious Crank Pots: "suck it!"
I live in the portion of Indiana that never used to change their clocks. Never. But last year the law changed and now I have to try to keep up with all this fiddling around with clocks? I'm too old to learn new tricks!! bark, bark!!!!!
LOL
Nope, nope. Nothing doing. To me, Daylight Savings Time is like most people: if you don't acknowledge them, they must not exist.
You're a morning person, aren't you?
If the good lord wanted us up this early he'd have the f#$@ing lights on.
Grr. Now leave me alone while I hit the snooze.
:D
Being a Brit living in the UK we get an additional three weeks of winter before "British Summer Time" starts. At which point normally clouds gather, rain pounds down, villages are cut off due to floods and the winds are so high that acres of roofing materials are shed and a forest of trees across the country are uprooted.
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