Daylight Savings Time…Change your mind not just your clock!

This weekend we changed our clocks to reflect daylight savings time and “lost” an hour. Studies have long debated the impact and duration of time change on the body and although your sleep patterns may be getting back to normal, I would bet the majority of you are still in need of adjusting your behavior. This can be particularly evident in our children whose capacity to adjust is most definitely challenged. As my brother in law once said, “who ever invented daylight savings time didn’t have children”. Those of you with kids know exactly what I am referring to.

Daylight savings, as with any time change you may encounter, can make you feel slightly disoriented, sluggish and a bit foggy. Simply put, you may not be at the top of your game! It is during these seasonal transitions that it becomes increasingly more important to become consciously aware of your surroundings while considering the “real” time versus the solar time. Particularly as we “wait” for it to get lighter earlier we must understand that regardless of the position of the sun, 5:00 AM is still early. Granted many of us are up and some out and on their way to work, but this time of day can leave us vulnerable just by the sheer fact that it is not the time of day that sees the majority of people commuting. Don’t let yourself become isolated, stay on well populated streets, utilize well lit and positioned parking spaces and have a companion if possible. Keep your cell phone charged and easily accessible and know where you are going. Remember to focus your mind and pay close attention to your surroundings. Don’t become complacent; be aware, conscious of your behavior and the behavior of those around you.

With Daylight Savings Time comes the inevitable and for many of us, long awaited arrival of Spring. Relish the change in season and promise that it brings, just do so safely.