Households urged to make 15 minute change before Sunday | UK | News
Households across the UK are being urged to make a 15-minute change ahead of this Sunday when the clocks will go back one hour.
Clocks change twice a year and the timing coincides with the change of seasons. The first time change occurs in early spring to mark the beginning of British Summer Time, and the second in autumn to signal a return to Greenwich Mean Time. Changing the clocks was first introduced in the 1916 Summer Time Act and was introduced to provide farmers with an extra hour of sunlight during the summer months to help support the agricultural sector. The change was formalized in 1907 following a campaign led by British builder William Willett, who hoped that the move would prevent people from wasting precious daylight hours and help save energy.
Turning the clocks forward in the spring gives us longer days and brighter evenings, but when the clocks go back in the autumn, this change means shorter and darker evenings await us. This year, the clocks will go back one hour at 02:00 on Sunday, October 26, and this change can cause a major disruption in your body clock and mood.
To help prevent this, experts recommend adjusting your bedtime routine by up to 15 minutes each night until this Sunday’s change to allow your body to adjust so your sleep will be less disrupted.
The sleep experts at Sleepeezee explain: “One of the best ways to make the time change easier is to set your sleep schedule in advance.
“In the week before the change, try to go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night to allow your body to gradually adjust to the lost sleep time. This small change will help minimize 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 every day, even on weekends, will help strengthen your body’s natural circadian rhythm.”
“Your body will naturally know when it’s time to rest, making it easier to fall asleep even if the hours change.”
It is also recommended that you make a few more lifestyle changes that will make it easier for you to sleep during the time change and help you rest well despite the time shift.
This includes shifting your meal times slightly later in the day before the change, limiting your caffeine intake, bathing before bed, and cutting back on alcohol.
