4 tips for a smooth switch to summer time

|Lifestyle

Summer is upon us, and with it the switch from winter to summer time. We turn the clock forward an hour and then have to adapt to the change each year. But why do we do this? What can you do to minimise the inconvenience? And with small children, how do you get through the switch to summer time as smoothly as possible? In this article, you will find all the answers!

What is summer time?

Across the European Union and in the US, we turn the clock forward one hour on the last Sunday of March and then back an hour on the last Sunday of October.

This custom started in the 1970s because it gets light very early in summer. By turning the clock forward one hour, we make more efficient use of available daylight. This was thought to save energy because we needed less electric lighting.

Summer time = energy savings?

But what about now? The energy-saving effect of summer time is negligible. Scientific research shows that society has now evolved in such a way that electric lighting accounts for only a fraction of our daily energy consumption.

More daylight better for mental health?

Proponents of summer time say that the extra hour of daylight in the evening has a positive impact on our mental health. But even that is now being contradicted by scientists. According to a data study, conducted in America and Sweden, the change to summer time, and thus the disruption of our biological clock, could be at the root of heart problems and numerous other health complaints.

Here's how to prepare for summer time

Whether the onset of summer has a major or minor impact on you, it is beneficial for everyone to pay extra attention to their health at this time of year. In this way, we can help our bodies experience the shift in biorhythms as less of a shock.

Tip 1: turning the clock forwards or backwards?

Every year, we have to think... do we get an 'extra’ hour and should we turn the clock back? Or do we turn the clocks forward so we 'lose' an hour? A trick you can use for this is: spring forward (and ‘fall’ back).

So, on the last weekend of March, 2 am becomes 3 am during the night of Saturday to Sunday and we 'lose an hour'. In October, we make the reverse move and have an extra hour of sleep.

Tip 2: Adjust your sleep rhythm

Many people feel as if they losing an hour’s sleep. So it could be wise to adjust your body to the time change beforehand.

How do you do that? By pretending summer time has started as early as Wednesday evening and crawling into bed an hour earlier. You then allow your body extra rest and the transition to 'getting up an hour earlier' will be less challenging in the coming weeks.

Tip 3: nutrition signals sleep time

You can also let your body know that it will lose an hour’s sleep through your diet. In the evening, make sure you don't put high-energy meals (i.e. eat fewer carbohydrates and more protein) on the menu. In the morning, on the other hand, choose hearty breakfasts to give your body enough energy during the day.

That way, your body will switch into rest mode more smoothly in the evening, while getting a marked energy boost during the day.

Extra tip: with Edenred Meals, you can source everything you need for a healthy breakfast, a tasty lunch and a light supper.

Tip 4: small children and the change to daylight saving time

For parents of young children, the change to summer/winter time can be a bit of a nightmare. You can’t really explain this change to a young child.

Children follow their inner biological clock and wake up and feel tired or hungry according to their own rhythms, regardless of whether the clock has been turned back or moved forward an hour.

If your children wake up incredibly early by default, summer time is a small relief. Instead of waking up at 5.30 am, for example, they 'only' wake up at 6.30 am. And hey, every hour of sleep gained is a bonus, right?!

To gradually acclimatise children to summer time, you can move their bedtime forward by 10 to 15 minutes each time, day by day, in the run-up. This will make the transition to summer time less abrupt and your child (and you) will be a little less bothered by it.

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