{"id":572973,"date":"2026-03-29T22:49:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T22:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/572973\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T22:49:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T22:49:31","slug":"what-losing-an-hour-is-really-doing-to-your-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/572973\/","title":{"rendered":"What losing an hour is really doing to your body"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n

Your support makes all the difference.Read more<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the moment we\u2019ve all been waiting for. Through the long dark days of arriving at the office in the pitch black and going home long after night\u2019s fallen, we\u2019ve kept this chapter in the back of our minds: British Summer Time<\/a>, where the clocks go forward one hour until October. Hooray. Right? <\/p>\n

Well, as much as this is cause for Aperol-in-the-park celebration, there are health implications to consider too. Losing an hour of sleep can have an impact on your metabolism, hormones and energy levels, as your body runs on a circadian rhythms. In fact, the clocks changing causes such noticeable disruptions that the British Sleep Society<\/a> has even campaigned to abolish Daylight Savings<\/a> the world over to \u201csafeguard public health and wellbeing\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur internal body clocks, synchronised mainly by light exposure, regulate essential physiological functions such as the sleep-wake cycle and metabolism,\u201d Dr Jeffrey Kelu, circadian rhythms expert at King\u2019s College London, outlined in his research <\/a>into the issue. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe acute effect of the spring clock change is a sudden reduction in sleep duration, caused by the overnight loss of one hour, and the difficulty in adapting to earlier wake times,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis can lead to chronic \u2018circadian misalignment\u2019, a condition known as \u2018social jet lag\u2019, which is associated with an increased risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and mood disorders.\u201d Read, expect to feel groggy. <\/p>\n

\"Snoozing,Snoozing, not losing: Audrey Hepburn asleep in \u2018Breakfast at Tiffany\u2019s\u2019 (Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n

Dietician, Dr Sammie Gill, points out this can also cause \u201cgut lag\u201d as your digestive system follows your circadian rhythm too. \u201cGenerally, the spring clock change is considered more disruptive than the autumn clock-change where you gain an hour of sleep,\u201d she says. \u201cMost people can adjust with a little help, although some adjust quicker than others,\u201d Gill warns. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a contentious issue, with Brits seriously divided over whether we should keep BST or not. In fact, a 2024 YouGov poll<\/a> found that 46 per cent of people in the UK support Daylight Savings, while 42 per cent are all for its abolition. So, it really is neck and neck. But no matter which side of the fence you sit, there are ways to stay healthy as clocks change.<\/p>\n

Shift your routine gradually <\/p>\n

Planning ahead before Daylight Savings comes into force is the best thing you can do. In order to keep your breakfast time consistent with your body\u2019s internal clock rather than the new clock time, it\u2019s advised that you gradually adjust your schedule in the days leading up to the change. <\/p>\n

\u201cTry to shift your bedtime, wake time and mealtimes by 15 to 20 minutes earlier each day to help your body ease into the new schedule,\u201d says Ruth Taylor, nutritionist at Boots Online Doctor. <\/p>\n

Keep regular meal times <\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve adjusted your schedule, it\u2019s important to stick to it. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe thrive on routine, and even a one-hour change can mean we eat out of sync with our internal clock. This can affect blood sugar regulation, hormone balance and our energy levels,\u201d explains Taylor. <\/p>\n

\u201cMaintain regular mealtimes, especially breakfast, lunch and dinner, in order to keep your digestion and metabolism in line with your circadian rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Make breakfast a priority <\/p>\n

Research has shown that aligning our meal times with when our body is ready for food can help with weight management, blood sugar balance and heart health. So, shifting breakfast by even an hour can cause \u2018metabolic jet lag\u2019 that disrupts these processes.<\/p>\n

\u201cEat a nutritious breakfast within an hour or two of waking to kickstart your metabolism and signal the start of your active day,\u201d Taylor says. \u201cRegular meals with a balance of protein, whole grains, healthy fats and vegetables, along with enough water, can help maintain energy levels.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"SchedulingScheduling issues: Winston, Nick and Jess having breakfast in \u2018New Girl\u2019 (Fox)<\/p>\n

Avoid eating close to bedtime <\/p>\n

Taylor recommends finishing your last meal of the day at least two to three hours before you go to sleep, as food too near to bedtime can disrupt digestion and sleep quality. <\/p>\n

If you do need to eat something before bed, the nutritionist advises opting for \u201csleep-friendly\u201d snacks. \u201cChoose something light and nutrient-dense rather than heavy or sugary,\u201d she says. \u201cFor example, Greek yoghurt with kiwi is an ideal combination.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cBy making small tweaks to your routine \u2013 from when you eat to how you wind down \u2013 you can help your body adjust to the clock change and keep your sleep, digestion and energy on track,\u201d adds Ruth. <\/p>\n

Manage fluids for better sleep <\/p>\n

While staying hydrated is always important, glugging liquids right before you go to sleep can have a negative impact on how rested you are, too. <\/p>\n

\u201cStay hydrated throughout the day, but reduce fluid intake close to bedtime to avoid waking up during the night,\u201d says Taylor. <\/p>\n

\u201cTry to have your last tea or coffee at least six to eight hours before bed, as caffeine can linger in your system, and limit alcohol, especially in the evening, to support better sleep quality.\u201d <\/p>\n

Support your body clock with light <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re feeling a bit bleary-eyed and irritable when you wake up over the next few days, Taylor suggests getting an early morning walk in \u2013 or even just sitting by the window or in the garden with your cup of tea. <\/p>\n

\u201cGet plenty of natural light in the morning to help regulate your circadian rhythm,\u201d she suggests. \u201cExposing your eyes to natural light early in the day can promote melatonin balance \u2013 your sleep hormone.\u201d <\/p>\n

She adds: \u201cOn the other hand, minimise exposure to bright artificial light (especially blue light from screens) in the evenings. Keeping a regular bedtime, limiting screens before bed, and maintaining a cool, dark bedroom can all help improve sleep quality.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":572974,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[64,63,137,500],"class_list":["post-572973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-healthcare","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-health","tag-healthcare"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/572973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=572973"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/572973\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/572974"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=572973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=572973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=572973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}