We are quickly approaching that time of year again. No, not the holiday season, even though that one’s on the way too – but Daylight Savings Time (DST). The time of year we all feel a little bit “blah,” to sound very technical. I don’t know about you, but I’m not the biggest fan of the light leaving us so quickly in the late afternoon. But here are some ways we can help combat those “Fall Back” blues and use the time to our advantage.
It definitely gets a bit more challenging when we fall back. Especially if you have kids participating in a multitude of after-school activities. Sleep schedules get off track, and time seemingly runs out quickly once school’s out for the day.
Maintaining a good sleep routine is important so everyone feels well-rested and has gotten the most out of their shortened days.
Keep consistent. You know a good bedtime routine is key if you have young kids. To try and maintain their bedtime once we fall back, try pushing it out 10-15 each day for about a week prior. Once we hit DST, their bedtime hour should be back on track and keep mostly consistent.
Use the darkening days to your advantage and make it fun. Earlier darkness can give your family more time for fun nighttime activities while maintaining the kids’ bedtimes. Host a movie night with other families with dinner and snacks. If the weather cooperates, set it up outside and include a s’mores station with hot apple cider and cocoa. Not having to wait hours for the sun to go down can be fun and allow for more family and friends time.
The earlier light in the morning can also be a good thing—hear me out. Waking up to streaming sunlight can have a positive effect on how your day will shape up. Use the earlier sun to your advantage, take a crisp morning walk, or brew your favorite beverage and sit outside with a good book or podcast.
Enjoy the quiet of the morning before the daily chaos begins. It can be a great time for self-reflection and reset- helping kick the day off to a good start.
Whatever your thoughts are, Daylight Savings Time seems to be sticking around for a while. So you might as well embrace it and find the positives in it to help you and your family make the most of it.
