Flourish eMAG Apr 25 - Flipbook - Page 40
MOVING
THECLOCKS
BACK
AND SLEEP
AT THE END OF DAYLIGHT
saving in autumn (April), the clocks are set back one hour—giving us
an extra hour of sleep at night. Many countries use the phrase “fall
back” as a reminder to turn the clocks back by one hour.
This transition is less disruptive to our body clock than the spring
change. Our circadian rhythm naturally operates on a slightly longer
than 24-hour cycle, meaning that extending our day (by staying up a
little later) is easier than shortening it.
While it can take up to a week to adjust after the spring transition,
most people adapt to the autumn change after just one night.
In fact, “falling back” may even improve sleep quality. The earlier
sunset after the time change can encourage earlier bedtimes,
especially after the long summer evenings that often tempt us to stay
up later. Additionally, brighter mornings make it easier to wake up and
feel energised, helping establish a healthier sleep routine.
HOW IMPORTANT
IS SLEEPING WELL?
S
tudies suggest that people can lose
up to one hour of sleep when the
clocks move forward in October.
While this may not seem like a big
deal, even a small sleep de昀椀cit can affect
alertness and performance the next day.
