Daylight Savings Begins

Whether you love it or hate it, Daylight Savings Time technically begins at 2:00 a.m. on March 13, 2022.  Most people will adjust their clocks forward by one (1) hour before bedtime tonight.  Provided that you have the settings on your mobile phone selected to allow for this change, it should adjust automatically overnight.  Regardless, many people experience a period of adjustment to the time shift leaving them feeling a little groggy.

Some time change tips to make Daylight Savings Time a little easier to cope with:

• Ease into bed a little earlier tonight, and each night for a few days.  As little as 15-20 minutes earlier can make a difference in how rested you feel.
• Get exposure to daylight as soon as possible.  Once you wake, step outside and get some sunshine.  Daylight helps us to wake up and primes the brain for a normal circadian rhythm.
• Avoid drinking caffeine too close to bedtime.  Some experts recommend ceasing caffeine consumption as much as 6 hours before bedtime to help you get an extra hour of sleep.
• After eating, allow 2-3 hours to go by before you go to bed.
• Turn off all screens at least 30 minutes before you go to sleep.

Additionally, tomorrow is the day that the long-standing National Fire Protection Association "Change your Clock, Change your Batteries" campaign encourages you to change your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors batteries.  Not all smoke alarms require a yearly battery change, but most do.  Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and test the detector after the battery change to ensure that it's working correctly.

Sincerely,

Lafayette Woods, Jr.

Sheriff