Households across the UK are being urged to make a 15 minute change before this Sunday when the clocks will go back by one hour.
The clocks change twice every year and the timing coincides with the changing of the seasons. The first clock change takes place in early spring to mark the start of British Summer Time and the second falls 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 to help 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.
When the clocks go forward in the spring it gives us longer days and lighter evenings, but when the clocks go back in autumn the shift means shorter and darker evenings are in store. This year, the clocks will go back by one hour at 2am on Sunday, October 26, and this change 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 lead up to the change this Sunday to allow your body to get acclimatised so your sleep is less disrupted.
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.