March Is Here—And So Is the Time Change Drama For North Dakota!

March is finally here, which means better weather is (hopefully) on the way. But with the sunshine and rising temps comes something I have a love/hate relationship with—daylight saving time. That precious hour we gained back in the fall? Yeah, it’s time to give it back. Daylight saving time begins at 2:00 a.m. on March 9th. YUCK! I am not ready to lose that hour yet.

I know that I’m not alone in this struggle. Plenty of people dread this clock-changing chaos. The good news is that there are ways to make the transition a little easier.

Experts at sleepfoundation.org suggest a few tricks to help soften the blow of “springing forward.”

Ease Into It
Instead of shocking your body all at once, try gradually adjusting your sleep schedule in the week leading up to the time change. Going to bed 15-20 minutes earlier each night can help ease the transition.Try shifting some other daily activities—like meals and exercise too. It can get your internal clock used to the new routine.

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Stock Up on Sleep
If you’re already feeling drained when the time change hits, it’ll feel even worse. Try getting some extra sleep here and there so you have a little “sleep bank” to pull from. It can help reduce the grogginess that comes with the time shift.

Soak Up the Sun
Natural sunlight is one of the best ways to help your body adjust. After the time change, spend some time outside in the morning to reset your internal clock. If it’s too chilly, even sitting by a sunny window can help.

Upgrade Your Sleep Game
Good sleep habits are always important, but it’s especially helpful when adjusting to daylight saving time. Stick to a set sleep schedule, avoid those cell phones and tablets before bed, and cut back on caffeine in the evening. A good mattress and some blackout curtains don’t hurt, either!

Plan for the Aftermath
Let’s be real—losing that hour of sleep isn’t fun. Try not to overload your schedule the day after the time change. If you’re feeling extra tired, a short power nap (under 20 minutes!) can help. And whatever you do, don’t schedule any major life decisions before you’ve fully adjusted.

If everything goes our way (fingers crossed), maybe North Dakota will stop moving the clocks altogether. Time will tell!