Clocks go back on November 1 — do you gradually shift your sleep schedule, or just ride out the groggy Monday?
Daylight saving ends on Sunday, November 1 this year, so we get the extra hour back and then a weird week of waking up at the wrong time. Every year I read advice to shift bedtime 15 minutes a night for a week, and every year I ignore it and feel foggy on Monday anyway. For people who actually tried the gradual shift: did it make a real difference, or is it overthinking one hour? And what do you do about smart bulbs, timers and appliances that still get the change wrong?
1 answer
- Do nothing and bank the extra hour
Shifting 15 minutes a night for a week is overthinking one hour. Keep your normal wake time, go to bed when you are tired on Sunday night, and let the extra hour absorb the difference. The grogginess people blame on the clock change is usually just a late Sunday night. Spend the effort on the one thing that actually breaks: set your oven, microwave and car clocks manually on Sunday, because those are the ones that will lie to you on Monday morning.