Sleep after springing forward

Losing an hour of sleep doesn’t seem that big of a deal but many studies have indicated that most Americans are sleep deprived even before daylight saving.

This minimal loss causes many problems.

“When we lose an hour of sleep it usually takes a whole day to get back to normal,” said Phil Harper, Dental Sleep Doctor at Comfort Sleep solutions in Idaho Falls. “For some people, it may take even longer. We develop a natural rhythm when we go to sleep and when we disrupt those rhythms, it can take a bit to get back to normal.”

Daylight saving affects all of us, but those who struggle the most are individuals between the ages of thirteen and twenty. The best tip to help teens with sleep is to eliminate activity in the bedroom.

“Teenagers really need that sleep for their growth,” Harper said. “It is really important to create good sleep habits. For example, don’t have a lot of screen time right before you go to bed, avoid caffeine, drinking, exercising, alcohol, things like that. You just want to get into a natural routine and make your sleeping quarters different from your entertaining quarters. So, it’s not really good to actually watch tv in your own bedroom. You should have a separate space for and go to your bedroom where you actually sleep.”

For younger children, at home screen time should end an hour before they go to bed. If they are still struggling, a natural sleep supplement may also help jump-start the natural rhythm.

Comfort Sleep Solutions offers free screenings and encourages the community to take sleep health seriously.