A behavioural expert has given his top tips to avoid feeling sluggish when the clocks go forward on Sunday. We move into British Summer Time on Sunday (March 27) at 1am.
Losing this hour can have an impact on our sleep and wellbeing and Darren Stanton - a former police officer turned media consultant - has come up with some top tips. He has been dubbed the human lie detector and has a degree in psychology.
Speaking on behalf of online casino Slingo, he said there are things we can do to help the transition. Because even though the change heralds the start of (hopefully) better weather, it can have an impact on our sleep patterns.
Darren says: “The hour we technically lose in this transition can have a dramatic effect on our bodies and wellbeing the following day. Some people may be left feeling sluggish, lethargic and experiencing low moods.
“As humans we have a 24-hour internal clock in our brain which we call the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is very susceptible to change, which is why we tend to get things such as jet lag when we change different time zones or lack sleep. This has a profound effect upon the body‘s ability to function properly.
“The body needs a little bit of time to readjust and it can sometimes make us feel very strange. However, there are changes that can be made to avoid these unpleasant feelings when the clocks change.”
Top tips to avoid feeling tired when the clocks go forward
- Try to go to bed about 25 minutes earlier for four nights in the lead up to the clocks changing. That way, you avoid feeling sluggish tired and feeling like you need a power nap halfway through the afternoon
- Snack well. Fighting fatigue is all about your sleep and nutrition also plays a part in your physical alertness
- Avoid drinking alcohol a couple of days before the clocks go forward as drink can result in a poor night’s sleep
- Exercise earlier rather later to release necessary endorphins. This will give you a more positive outlook before you start your busy routine and help combat your sluggishness
Darren is a former police officer with Derbyshire police and moved into media and TV as a consultant. He has appeared on The One Show, This Moring as well as working on screen with Robert 'Judge' Rinder.
