There it is again, the dear time change. Sleeping an extra hour sounds good, but it can make you very tired. We have 10 tips to help you get through the time change. Many of them you should start with earlier.
It was still just summer. I was recently still busy to decide for one of my summer dresses... And already it is there... The time change. Now there is no stopping winter. Tired, groggy and unmotivated I am still a week after the time change.
Turning the clock hand is a thorn in the side not only for me, but also for many others. As we all know, complaining doesn't help much.
The countdown is on. To make the time change a little easier for you, I have collected 10 tips for you. With this it should work without big problems :)
With these tips you should start around the time change!
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Many vitamins
Fresh fruit and vegetables give us strength to survive the time change well. You can also see the changeover as an opportunity to eat healthier. Vitamins help you feel fitter.
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Sleep enough
The time change from summer to winter time is more problematic than the change from winter to summer time. Many find it difficult to cope with the newly gained hour that is suddenly there.
You can prepare for the time change 2-3 days before it happens. And do it step by step. Simply adjust your bedtime to the change. When changing to winter time, it is important to get enough rest beforehand. The worst thing you can do is start the time change with a sleep deficit. That will mess up your rhythm completely. -
Approach calmly
Many people react to the time change as if they had a mini-jet lag. It often takes weeks for the body to get used to the new time of day. And especially to the fact that it now gets less daylight. In addition to fatigue, sleep disturbances and headaches are often the result.
Our inner clock is to blame for this. If you are affected by such jet lag, you should take it very easy during the days after the changeover. If possible, you should avoid irregular sleeping and rising times.
Start already a week consciously always go to sleep at the same time. -
No nap at noon or in the afternoon
You like to take a little nap after lunch or in the afternoon? You should refrain from doing that on the day of the time change. So that your inner clock can settle down, you should better sleep through it. -
Hands off meat
Meat is full of iron. That can mess with our liver's day-night rhythm. Especially if you reach for steak in the evening, it could keep you awake at night.
Refrain from iron-rich foods during the transition period. -
No coffee
Sounds strange, doesn't it? But supposedly it helps if you do without coffee and black tea. Especially those coffees and teas with caffeine. This only tortures the body additionally in the time of the change. -
Foot bath for relaxed sleep
The good old foot bath works wonders for the time change. You can get different additives at the pharmacy. Lavender and lemon balm are very relaxing.
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Tea before bedtime
A cup of lemon balm tea or lavender tea can work wonders. Melissa and lavender relax your body and mind. They help you to calm down. Drink a large cup 15 minutes before bedtime. Unsweetened. Sugar before bedtime makes blood sugar levels rise quickly. This will cause you to feel alert. -
Go for a walk
On the days before the change to winter time and on the following days, you should go for a big walk every day. This makes you tired. At the same time you can get some sunlight. This calms the body :)
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Sport against fatigue
If you feel unmotivated and down, you should definitely get out into the fresh air. How about a little run before work? Unfortunately, it's too dark in the evening. Studies show that you can better survive the time change and fatigue in the wintertime if you do sports all the time. That's how you pump oxygen into your body.
Exciting facts about the time change:
There are many rumors and a few half-truths surrounding the time change. We have gone in search of clues and answer questions about the origin of the time change and how it affects our body.
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The time change was introduced during the war
Daylight saving time was first introduced in Germany during the First World War. Between 1916 and 1918, clocks were set forward by one hour in the summer. This allowed the armaments industry to make better use of daylight. The same thing happened during World War II and in the first years after the end of the war. From 1940, daylight saving time was in effect for 9 years. After that, there was no time change for a long time.
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The regular time change has existed since 1980
In Germany, changing the clocks was introduced only 36 years ago. Winter time is the "normal" time. In summer, the clocks were changed for the first time. The goal: energy should be used better because it is light one hour longer in the evening.
According to experts, however, this has not worked. In summer, many people turn on the lights less often. But that evens out again in the fall. Because here, more heating is needed in the morning - the sun rises later.
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Time change disturbs the body
Our inner clock is difficult to get out of balance. It simply ignores short-term changes. This helps us get back into the daily routine. The body also perceives the time change as a disturbance.
The change of time is so problematic because it happens so abruptly. If we didn't have clocks, our bodies would adjust to the shorter days on their own and thus adapt to the daylight conditions. And do it nice and slow. -
Good things take time
It can take several days to weeks for our body to get used to the time change. The organism needs a long time to get used to the new time and the reduced daylight. Our internal clock is linked to the light-dark rhythm.
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Earlier tired
Our internal perception of time is related to the day and night rhythm. You notice that you feel fitter when you are woken up by the sun. If you have to get up when it is still very dark, you feel tired and groggy.
So the time change makes us tired earlier. -
Abolish time change
There are increasing calls to abolish the time changeover. Studies also show that less daylight has a bad effect on the body. We are much more motivated and athletic on summer days. 74 % of all Germans would abolish the time change if they could.
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Animals also suffer
It's not just us humans who are bothered by the time. Animals also suffer from the time change. They do not have clocks themselves. However, the time at which they are fed changes. This can cause cows in particular not to give milk for a few days.
Our conclusion:
The time change is really annoying. But we have to go through it. If you have problems with the changeover, you should take it easy in the days leading up to it.
What torments you most about the time change? Do you have any other tips?
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