On March 10th, most of us will turn our clocks and watches ahead by one hour to comply with the annual ritual of Daylight Savings.

The good news is that this change will provide us with an extra hour of afternoon daylight. But the bad news is that we’ll lose and hour of sleep and the early morning hours will have less natural light.  

After we “spring forward,” it is not unusual for the body’s internal clock (or circadian rhythm ) to be thrown off course and for our moods to change as we adapt to the new time.

Sleep is Essential

According to published research, “we spend about one-third of our life either sleeping or attempting to do so.” Unfortunately, eight out of ten adults say they have experienced some type of sleep-related difficulty.

The repercussions of poor sleep can be harmful both physically and emotionally. People don’t only feel tired the next day, but the loss of sleep has a variety of serious and negative effects including:

• high stress levels and mood swings

• difficulty concentrating and problem-solving

• inability to pay attention to detail

• isolation, social withdrawal, and loneliness

• less productivity and poor performance at work

Sleep Solutions

Don’t despair if you are having trouble sleeping. Try these helpful tips:

1. Develop a Consistent Routine

Sleep experts emphasize the need to create a daily routine which involves going to bed at a set time each night and getting up at the same time each morning. Before you hop under the covers, wind down and relax. Your body needs time to shift into sleep mode. Spend the last hour before bed doing a calming activity such as reading or taking a warm bath. Keeping a consistent sleep cycle helps the body’s internal clock stay regulated.

2. Avoid Caffeine

Caffeine acts as a stimulant and will keep you awake longer than you wish. Most experts advise stopping all items that contain caffeine such as soft drinks, coffee, caffeinated tea, chocolate, etc., six hours prior to bed.

3. Put Down the Electronics

It may be tempting to check that email one last time before sleep, but it is harmful to getting proper sleep when you text, watch TV, or play games on your Smartphone prior to bedtime. Studies show that 95% of people use some type of computer, video game or cell phone at least a few nights a week within an hour of going to bed. The specific type of light emanating from the screens of these devices is stimulating to the brain and disrupts sleep.

4. Control Your Room Temperature

Your bedroom plays a key role in getting the sleep your body needs. Research has found that ideal bedroom temperature is between a cool 60 and 67 degrees. Extreme temperatures may disrupt or prevent you from falling asleep.

5. Sleep and Your Gut

There is a proven relationship between sleep and intestinal health. The gut helps support a good night’s sleep in a variety of ways:

• Melatonin, the hormone that regulates healthy sleep, is created in the gut as well as the brain.

• Serotonin helps plays a significant role in sleep quality.[11] Over 90% of serotonin is manufactured in the gut

• GABA, a calming amino acid that supports deep sleep, is produced by “good bacteria”

• Cortisol, a primary stress hormone, can keep you awake and anxious at night. Specially formulated probiotics can help reduce cortisol levels,  and allow for relaxation and stress reduction

• Probiotics help support a healthy mood and reduce tension, allowing for optimum sleep

A Final Word

Sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle and is essential to you feeling your best during the day. While you sleep, your brain rejuvenates and the body is reenergized.

Your sleeping habits effect your relationships, your productivity, and your quality of life.

Consider taking a Probiotic to not only adapt to Daylight Savings Time, but to allow for nightly restful slumber. You will be happily surprised by how your quality of life improves when you learn how to sleep better.

Learn more about Biolever®