5 Tips to Embrace the Darkness Post Daylight Saving Time

Oct 31

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. So cheers to that! 🥂

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. In fact, a Danish study found an 11% increase in depression cases after the time change.

We also generally feel a decrease in energy levels and need for more sleep associated with the shorter days and lack of sunlight, which can feel very frustrating in our modern lives since they don’t generally slow down just because the light decreases. In fact, they often tend to speed up and get busier with the holiday season.

I used to mourn “falling back” as a loss of afternoon light and the first indication of the beginning of a long winter season.

While December 21st IS the official change to the winter season and does mean that we will be entering the coldest stretch of the year in many places, it's also our first signal that we are shifting towards spring because the days begin to get longer from that day forward.

In fact, that same Danish study found that the cases of depression dissipated gradually after 10 weeks. which makes complete sense to me, as that would be around the time we start to experience notably more light in our days.

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!

However, we’re actually doing ourselves a disservice if we just push through these darker months at our usual pace because this time is meant for us to restore and replenish for the seasons to come.

Last year instead of being frustrated by my tiredness and lack of energy, I made an intentional choice to embrace my body's desired inclination to slow down and allowed myself radical amounts of rest. To the point I almost felt sloth-like sometimes.

I already knew and trusted that when spring came my energy would naturally increase again. So I was curious to see the results of my “sloth experiment”.

And do you know what I found come Springtime?

My energy skyrocketed. 🚀

To the point that I felt like the energizer bunny for weeks on end.

So this year I'm actually looking forward to, even excited about, the time change and these darker days so that I can take advantage of the benefits they provide to my body, mind and spirit.

And I wanted to share some of my radical rest habits with you so you can join me in my sloth experiment this season!

Read below for 5 ways to easily support your body’s circadian rhythms and balance your body's need for both light and rest

5 Tips To Embrace the Darker Days + Reenergize Your Body

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.

Sync your tasks to 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.

Take a nap: I love incorporating daily early afternoon naps starting at this time of year. I find it helps me get through that evening slump when my body would otherwise get super tired from the early sunset. And it just feels so luxurious to be able to take a 20 minute nap in the middle of the day, so if you could swing it, I highly recommend it.

Evaluate your sleep schedule: you may find that since you’re already in early to bed person that you end up wanting to go to bed around 7:30 or 8 PM, especially next week as your body adjust to the early darkness. Or you might find that you manage to make it through that evening slump and then get a second wind around 9 PM and find it hard to go to bed until 11 PM or midnight, just being aware of these patterns can be helpful in allowing you to choose whatever it feels best to your body and works for your life and schedule.

Eat to nourish your body: The week after the time change you may find that your hunger levels significantly increase as your body has a desire to want to store calories like a hibernating bear. Many years I’ve forgotten this and haven’t proactively planned ahead and find myself continuously snacking to try to feel full. This year, I’m excited to make lots of slow cooker soups, like potato soup from my abundance potoes (if you missed the story of the abundance potatoes last week, click here) to more easily and effortlessly nourish my body while hopefully curbing that need to snack!

I would love to hear which of the above tips you plan to incorporate and experiment with and how it goes for you! Let me know below!