When the clock strikes 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 6, you will be automatically transported an hour back in time as Daylight Saving Time ends — unless, of course, you happen to live in Arizona , which doesn’t change its clocks all year (why can’t we all be like Arizona?) .While it’s perhaps easier to fall back than spring forward, your body will almost certainly struggle to adjust to the new clock you’ll be operating on. (There’s actually ample evidence that suggests our bodies’ internal clocks never adjust to Daylight Saving Time, but that’s another story.)Instead of letting the changing of the clocks throw you off your schedule and work against your productivity when you return to work on November 7, consider these four tricks that should make the transition easier:
1. Stick with your regular sleep schedule
Unlike the Daylights Saving in March where you jump ahead one hour, this time around you're turning clocks back. So technically, you're gaining an hour back. But an extra hour may also mean that if you typically go to bed at 10 p.m., you'd be tired by 9 p.m.Try to stick with your regular sleeping schedule and go to bed at your usual time to avoid getting used to going to sleep earlier.
2. Turn your clocks backward ahead of time
You don’t have to wait until 2 a.m. on Sunday to flip your clocks back. If your schedule allows for it, consider setting your clocks back an hour when you wake up on Saturday morning. This should help trick your mind into believing clocks have changed before they actually have, making the transition slightly easier.
3. Eat meals a bit earlier each day
You can also trick your body into preparing for Daylight Saving Time to end by eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner an hour earlier than you normally do. As a result, your body’s internal clock will ease into the new time. When the clocks finally change, you’ll be hungry when you normally eat your meals — which should help you get to bed on time too.
4. Eat right and stick to your exercise routine
The easiest way to transition seamlessly between Daylight Saving Time and standard time is to get a good night’s sleep as much as possible in the days leading up to November 6. And one of the easiest ways to get a good night’s sleep each night is by eating healthy meals and making sure you get enough exercise each day. Do that and you’ll be able to sleep like a baby every night — which means you’ll have no problem waking up refreshed and ready to tackle your day.Keep in mind that no matter what you do, you may end up a bit groggy on Monday morning anyway. In that case, grab an extra cup of coffee and power through your day. You’ll be back on track in no time.
