Households across the UK are being urged to make a 15 minute change before October 26 when the clocks will go back by one hour.
There are two clock changes every year, which bookend different stages of the year – one in early spring to mark the start of British Summer Time and one in autumn to signal the return to Greenwich Mean Time. The changing of the clocks was first introduced in the Summer Time Act 1916 and was put in place to provide farmers with an extra hour of sunlight during the summer months as part of efforts to boost the agricultural sector. The change was formalised following a campaign led by British builder William Willett in 1907, who hoped the move would stop people from wasting valuable daylight hours and to help save energy.
In the spring and summer months, the clocks going forward allows us to enjoy longer days with lighter evenings, but the shift backwards means the start of much shorter and darker evenings. The clocks will go back by one hour at 2am on Sunday, October 26, and as well as the darker nights, the time shift also has its drawbacks in regards to sleep as it can cause major disruption to your body clock and mood.
To help avoid this, experts recommend adjusting your bedtime routing by 15 minutes each night in the week leading up to the change on October 26 to allow your body to get acclimatised.
Sleep experts at Sleepeezee explain: “One of the best ways to ease into the clock change is to adjust your sleep schedule beforehand.
“In the week leading up to the change, try going to bed 15 minutes earlier each night to allow your body to adjust gradually to the lost hour of sleep. This small change will help minimise the shock to your internal body clock and make the transition smoother.
“Consistency is key when it comes to maintaining a good sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, even on weekends, will help reinforce your body’s natural circadian rhythm.
“Your body will then naturally know when it’s time to wind down, making it easier to fall asleep, even when the clocks shift.”
It’s also recommended that you make a few other lifestyle changes to help aid your sleep through the clocks change, helping you to stay well rested despite the hour shift.
This includes moving your meal times to slightly later in the day before the change, limiting your caffeine intake, taking a bath before bed and reducing alcohol.
