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A sleep expert has issued a warning to Brits ahead of the clocks going back this weekend.
Yep, it's that time of year! The upcoming weekend will see the clocks going back an hour as we say goodbye to British Summer Time (BST) and officially enter the colder, darker season.
The clocks will go back this year in the very early hours of Sunday morning, so at 2am BST on 27 October, the clocks will switch to 1am GMT.
While the prospect of sleeping an extra hour on Sunday morning sounds enticing, some people’s sleep patterns may be disrupted by the new time.
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Fret not though, as a sleep expert has drafted a guide on how to help you cope with the new sleeping schedule as well as the days getting shorter.
James Wilson, who’s also known as The Sleep Geek, is a sleep expert at Mattress Online and has shared some useful tips on how not to get completely spaced out due to the clocks changing.
His advice also includes reducing caffeine intake and steering clear of alcohol that weekend which, with Halloween celebrations approaching, may prove challenging for some, so use your best judgement here and get your priorities straight.
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"If you’re worrying about getting to sleep, then try some self-care to relax before bed,” the expert said.
"This could be listening to calming music, reading a book or taking a warm bath,” he continued. "Self-care habits include limiting your caffeinated drinks intake, exercising regularly and no alcohol before bed."
Wilson pointed out that stress may be the reason why some will struggle to deal with the new routine.
"For many of us the biggest issue with the clocks changing is the stress it causes us. We need to put it in perspective when it comes to how it impacts our sleep timing,” he said.
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Wilson also urged people to go to bed when they feel sleepy rather than waiting out to go to bed at their usual time.
"Most of us will lie in on a weekend, so the adjustment in wake-up time is not too noticeable," he said. "One thing to consider though, is that on Sunday night don’t delay going to bed to fall asleep at your ‘normal’ time.
"Your normal time that night will be an hour later than the day before, so it’s important to go to bed when you feel sleepy.”
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Finally, it’s crucial to try and get some natural light during the day on Sunday so that your body clock will adjust faster to the new time.
"Additionally, getting natural light slightly later in your day on Sunday will help set your body clock and could help your body adjust to the change faster.
"Most of us will have adjusted after one or two nights."
Stefania Sarrubba