The abolition of the time change has not yet worked. So many people in Germany continue to hang on the ropes twice a year. Here are some tricks to make it easier for you to survive the time change.
contents:
- Time change is one of the sleep robbers
- More health problems due to time change
- Why is there a switch to daylight saving time at all?
- Mini jet lag stresses the body
- Tips to prepare your body for the time change
- How and when is the clock set to daylight saving time?
- Why hasn’t the time change been abolished yet?
To make matters worse about the “stolen” hour in spring, the change also creates problems for health and not too closely (and even the gained) because that messes up the biorhythm. Insomnia, tiredness, concentration problems, and other things that only cause long-term damage due to the back and forth.
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The time change is one of the sleep robbers
In addition to the corona pandemic, this has adverse effects on more and more people, according to the current Forsa survey compared to previous surveys. One in three survey participants now reports problems getting up in the morning days after the time change.
In 2016, only one in four Germans found it difficult to get out of bed. But irritability and tiredness during the day and problems falling asleep in the evening have also increased among those surveyed over the years.
All in all, every second person now feels adverse effects on their sleeping behavior and well-being due to the time change. These problems occur much more frequently in women when they turn their watch.
More health problems due to time change
This is also reflected in another representative Forsa survey commissioned by DAK-Gesundheit in 2021. Almost a third of people in Germany have already noticed physical or psychological problems after a time change. At 30 per cent, this value is at the highest level in recent years.
The time change is redundant and should be abolished, say more than three-quarters of those surveyed. Next Sunday, the clocks will be put forward at night. From then on, summertime will apply again in all European countries.
Why is there a switch to daylight saving time at all?
On the last Sunday in March, clocks were put forward by one hour – daylight saving time. This means that the clocks deviate by one hour from the expected time.
The real reason: is to save energy. Unfortunately, it turned out that this idea was not as clever as hoped because:
1. the actual goal of saving energy was not achieved
and
2. the time change was suspected early on after the introduction; health problems such as sleep and falling asleep disorders cause difficulty concentrating.
Mini jet lag stresses the body
The health disadvantages of the time change are now known, have become the subject of studies more often and will probably remain so in the future. This is because the human inner clock reacts much more sensitively to disturbances than one might initially assume. Our sleep-wake cycle is mainly based on a biological clock: light.
With all the joy about the approaching summer, the time change in the spring is a problem for many people. And that is stronger than in autumn. Sometimes it takes weeks for the body to get used to the new rhythm.
The symptoms are similar to those after a flight to a different time zone, albeit lesser. The mini-jet lag shows up on the first day in the form of tiredness, a bad mood and reduced performance.
Tips to prepare your body for the time change.
- Plan and go to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier, ideally a few days before the time change.
- Stick to your usual daily routine before and after the time change. For example, if dinner is always around 7 p.m., keep it that way with the new time. If you have children, slowly get them and your family used to the new time, ideally in 10 to 15-minute increments a day.
- So that you can fall asleep better, you should avoid alcohol in the evening and stimulants such as coffee or certain types of tea should generally not be drunk four to six hours before going to bed. Smokers should also reduce nicotine consumption in the hours before bedtime.
- Try to stay active during the day. Regular exercise and sport promote not only circulation but also healthy sleep. But plan a time to come down in the evening, then it will be easier to sleep.
- You should avoid taking a nap, especially during the changeover, but definitely on the day before the time change to fall asleep better in the evening. If you cannot do without having the nap, then keep it less for about 10 to 30 minutes maximum.
- Make sure that your bedroom is not too warm and stuffy; around 18 °C is ideal. It’s best to air it out before you go to bed.
- Our inner clock is controlled by daylight, among other things. However, since only a few can be “kissed awake by the sun”, it would simply be too late for most jobs and the start of school; inventions such as wake-up lights have become very popular. These simulate sunrise and, if necessary, sunset.
How and when is the clock set to daylight saving time?
In Germany, clocks are always switched to daylight saving time on the last Sunday in March. More precisely, in the night from Saturday to Sunday. The hand advances from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. One hour is adjusted from the actual average time, still called winter time, so it is light longer in the evening. Top of Form
Why hasn’t the time change been abolished yet?
In an EU-wide online survey in August 2018, 84 per cent of participants favored abolishing the time change. THEREFORE, the EU member states wanted to cancel them as quickly as possible. That was already planned for 2021.
But nothing will come of it for the time being. The problem is that Europe cannot agree on whether summer or winter should be considered standard time. In addition, the corona pandemic got in the way. So the issue of the time changes needs even more time.
Incidentally, on the last Sunday in October, summertime ends, and we return to the current average time, the so-called wintertime. Then we get back the “lost” hour. A change is not in sight for the time being.
Conclusion
Those who are also familiar with tips for the time change include companies that have made it their job to ensure. We hope you found this helpful article. Discover many more ways to get the most out of your Top Health Fitness Tips on our blog Website.
