5 Tips to cope better with the fall time change

At first, an extra hour of sleep seems good. Yes, but not for everybody! Young kids are more likely to be affected by the change of time. The sudden change in their biological rhythm will have them wake earlier in the morning, and they could be more irritable at the end of the day. If you're worried about the impacts of the time change on the members of your family, here are 5 tips to welcome it with more optimism and prevent winter blues from hitting too hard.

• Eat better. Limiting or even eliminating your consumption of sugars and fats can greatly help with sleep. How? Giving your digestive system some rest and reducing toxins in your organism seems to be making the time change easier on our biological clock.
• Do something outside. It is essential to get as much sunlight as possible this time of year. Ideally, try and get a 20-minute exposure to sunlight before starting your day. If time is a concern, it's always possible to resort to light therapy.
• Help your kids deal better with the time change by implementing a daily routine. Having young ones do something calm before going to bed will help them fall asleep.
• This week's key word: discipline! It's recommended to turn off all electronic devices at least one hour before going to bed and to follow a regular sleeping/waking schedule.
• Our last tip, but not the least: keep smiling no matter what! The fall time change does not only have negative effects on our body, to the contrary. It's in fact closer to our natural biological clock (based on a circadian rhythm) and the effects we feel are generally more beneficial. Among others, it is thought to reduce the number of heart attacks by 5% over the next few days that follow.

Enjoy an extra hour of sleep. Try and see this time change positively!