How to Deal With Time Change

Whether you are an airline passenger travelling to a different time zone or just another person experiencing the change to Daylight Savings Time, time change can cause your body to get thrown for a loop. There are some successful strategies that have proven effective for coping with time changes so that your body stays happy, healthy and under control. Keep in mind that the strategies you choose for dealing with the time change may be a little different based on the season. If it is spring, you will lose an hour. If it is fall, you will gain an hour.

Instructions

Daylight Savings Time

• 1

  Avoid drinking caffeine during the days prior to the time change. Caffeine can stay in your system for a long time and can alter your sleeping habits. It's important that you do everything that you can in the days leading up to either the spring or fall time changes to ensure that your body makes the transition easily.

• 2

  Skip the afternoon nap before the spring time change. Although taking a nap and getting some extra rest the day before you lost an hour to the time change may sound like a good idea, it's not. You will give yourself more energy and throw off your sleep schedule.

• 3

  Exercise the day before the time change, especially if you don't regularly exercise. You will get a better night of sleep if you exercise, and getting a good night of sleep is the best medicine for both the spring and fall time changes.

• 4

  Climb into bed very early before the spring time change. If you can, get to sleep by 9 p.m. Although this may be a serious struggle for a lot of people, it's very important that you get as much sleep as possible when you will be losing an hour. That way, you don't feel groggy the next day.

• 5

  Convince yourself that you never lost an hour or gained an hour. Just go about your day as you normally would once you wake up. Be positive and insist that you will get everything done that you need to get done. Don't let the time change throw you off your routine.

Jet Lag

• 6

  Get enough rest before you leave for your flight. If you can, take the day off before your flight. Be sure to get eight or nine solid hours of sleep the night before your flight. It's important to rest emotionally, as well. Relax the night before with a good movie or an interesting book.

• 7

  Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages on the airplane. Alcohol dehydrates the body, and your brain will be confused enough as it travels across time zones. Give your body its best chance to adjust to the time change.

• 8

  Schedule any meetings or travel activities for at least a few hours after your flight, if possible. If you can, don't make any plans for the first day. Take the day to rest and recover and let your body get used to the time change.

• 9

  Eat well balanced meals, especially during the first few days in the new time zone. Eat plenty of carbohydrates for energy and don't forget about protein to keep your body going strong. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated.