3 self care tips to re-sync your body after a time change
It’s that time again, literally.
While some places, like Europe and Mexico, have already turned their clocks back and ended Daylight Saving Time for the year, here in the US it’s our turn this coming Sunday.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly been finding it harder to get out of bed in the morning and will welcome the additional hour of light to make that process easier!
According to science, ending Daylight Saving Time, where we “fall back” and gain an hour, is actually easier on our bodies than beginning DST in the spring when we “spring forward” and lose an hour.
This is mostly because the change of time not only disrupts our circadian rhythms, but the loss of hour generally translates for most of us as less sleep. And such phenomena as increased heart attacks and car crashes have been linked to the few days after spring forward. Thankfully our bodies are resilient and those increases fade quickly.
Since we're gaining an hour now (and most likely getting more sleep, yay!!), we don’t see those same detrimental spikes when we fall back, but because of the loss of daylight at the end of the day, we do see a greater increase in SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and depression overall.
There is also generally a decrease in energy levels and need for more sleep associated with the shorter days and lack of sunlight as we work our way towards the Winter Solstice.
But that actually brings up one of my favorite ways to reframe DST.
I used to just see “falling back” solely as a loss of afternoon light and the first indication of the beginning of a long winter season.😡
It wasn’t until I started becoming more attuned to the subtle inter-seasonal shifts that I was able to appreciate “falling back” (and accept it with less begrudging and bemoaning).
The first month of each season is the "early phase" of the season and oscillates between the characteristics of the current season and of the season before, so in the present case, the warmer temperatures from summer and the crispness of fall.
During the second month, we hit the peak of the season, so in fall that means the brilliant colors of the leaves, apple picking and pumpkin everything.
During the last month of the season we experience signs of the current season and of the one to come, so soon we'll notice colder weather, leafless trees and more potential for snow, if you live in an area that gets it.
While December 21st is the official change to the winter season and does mean that we will be entering the coldest and darkest stretch of the year, it is actually also our first signal that we are shifting towards spring because the days begin to get longer from that day forward.
So if you currently find yourself tempted to complain about the darkness that comes with “falling back“, just remember that in exactly a month and a half the days begin to get longer again! 🎉
Here are 3 tips on how to support your body in easing through time transition, whether it’s because of a DST or a travel time switch that throws you off your rhythms, these tips will help get you back in sync.
Take a morning walk: This will not only help your circadian rhythms sync up to your new time, but will also ground you physically and energetically. The closer to waking you can take the walk the better.
Tap your spleen meridian points: Take your fingertips to the sides of your ribcage, about 4 ribs up from the bottom, and tap gently but vigorously for 30 seconds. If the points are tender it means some energy needs to be moved there so keep tapping! This can be especially helpful to do in Fall weather as the spleen is more taxed during this season.
Honor your energy: Our bodies go through energy ebbs and flows throughout the year. Generally when the daylight hours are shorter that is a signal to the body to slow down and rest more. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do less, but changing the way you do things to be in sync with the body’s desired pace of moving and way of being will automatically give you a boost of energy.
Let me know how it goes! Share in the comments below.
