Daylight Saving Time is a trigger for dealing with sleep issues

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

This weekend sees the earliest ever return to Daylight Saving Time, and time to focus upon insomnia.
This coming Sunday morning heralds the earliest ever return to Daylight Saving Time in the USA (in the UK, it's set for two weeks later). So if you're out of bed by 9am, it is going to feel like 8am. The Monday morning commute is hard when brain and body have not adjusted to the new time and that is why there is usually a peak of road crashes on that day.

University of Michigan experts have some advice for people with insomnia who often find the shift in the clocks hard to deal with. Prepare yourself for the change by going to bed just 15 minutes earlier tonight and get up 15 minutes earlier tomorrow. Then get up at your regular time on Sunday - sleeping in is not good for people with insomnia. Preparing for time shifts like Daylight Saving Time or travel across time zones is always a good idea.

The Michigan insomnia team has recently discovered that women's sleep patterns differ from men's, which is why they are more likely to complain of sleep problems. Daylight Saving Time kicks off Sleep Awareness week and you can find tips on beating insomnia at www.sleepfoundation.org . These include advice on regular bedtimes, avoiding naps, avoiding alcohol and caffeine and making 'wind down' time.

Source
University of Michigan Health System 6th March 2007

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