We’ll be moving the clocks on March 8, meaning we will spring forward one hour, but health experts say you should start preparing for it now.

 

It might seem like one hour shouldn’t be that big of a deal, but health experts say the sudden loss of an hour of sleep and the disruption to our body’s internal clock causes a jet-lag type feeling for many of us that can linger for up to a week. So how can you adjust to the time change quickly?

Try to minimize the disruption by slowly adjusting. Go to bed 10-15 minutes earlier and wake up about 10-15 minutes earlier each day for about a week before until you are on the new schedule. 

Adjust your eating schedule too. If you’re used to eating at certain times, gradually adjust the times to match the clock change. 

Your pets need to adjust to the new schedule too if they eat at certain times, so change their eating times gradually in the days before we move the clocks. And this goes for young children who might also be on a schedule. 

Try and get some sunlight as soon as you can after waking up as this helps set your internal body clock. And try to make the house darker for longer closer to bedtime. 

No sleeping in the day of the clock change. Experts say try and get up as close to your adjusted time as possible, even if you’re tired.

Try and go to bed at the new time the night before the clock change so you won’t be as tired the next day.Â