Spring Forward with a Fresh Start

Spring is in the air. It’s a time for fresh beginnings, new growth and longer days. Before daylight saving time nudges you out of bed, it’s time to prepare for all spring brings. We’re talking about sleep habits and self care, but don’t worry, you’re not on this growth journey alone. We have a few tips and resources to help you bloom where you’re planted. If you’re ready, let’s dig in and spring forward with a fresh start!

Change your clocks and your sleep habits.

Mark your calendar, because Sunday, March 13th is the day we change our clocks. Thankfully, your smart devices will do the job for you as long as you have the right settings turned on. For iPhone users, visit your phone’s Settings, then General and Date & Time to double check that the toggle is on for Set Automatically. If it is, then you’re safe to fall asleep on March 12th and wake up to the correct time on the 13th! Android users, the process is essentially the same. Just tap into your Date and time settings and toggle on the Automatic date and time setting. Now you can hit the pillow with sweet dreams and no stress. Although your smart devices take care of themselves, don’t forget to adjust the clocks around your house. Need a reminder? Just add it to your smartphone calendar.

Now that you can rest assured that your clocks are telling the truth, it’s time to prepare your sleep habits to fall in line with the abrupt time change. Although the time change is only one hour difference, it can still greatly impact your health by throwing off sleep cycles. Let’s get a little scientific here. Humans are guided by circadian rhythms, which are 24-hour cycles that regulate sleep as well as other functions like appetite and mood. If you’ve ever heard the expression, “he woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” well, you can blame circadian rhythms for that. This sleep-wake cycle is largely dependent on light, hence the reason we sleep when it’s dark and are awake when the sun is out. See, science! When we change our clocks in a couple weeks, our mornings will be darker, and evenings will be lighter. This can delay the sleep-wake cycle, making our bodies feel a little more sluggish in the mornings while we’re still wide awake in the evenings. In fact, one study found that the average American loses 40 minutes of sleep on the Monday following the spring forward clock change. Understanding the “why” behind this uphill climb of ‘springing forward’ allows us to rely on a few apps to help us combat sleepless nights and groggy mornings.

Apps for Zzzzs:

• BetterSleep (Rating: Apple 4.8 / Google 4.6): Formerly known as Relax Melodies, this app is all about sleeping better and feeling better. The app even touts improved wellbeing in just one week, so there’s still time to download it before the time change! With the BetterSleep app, you can track your sleep and create bedtime routines all around their audio collection, guided stories and relaxation practices.
• Slumber (Rating: Apple 4.7 / Google 4.6): Branded as “the app that puts you to sleep,” this one just might be worth downloading before March 13th. With sleep meditations, soothing stories and music and soundscapes, the Slumber app is perfect for powering down the mind before bedtime. Their science-based techniques are proven to promote relaxation and encourage sleep.
• Relax and Sleep Well Hypnosis (Rating: Apple 4.8 / Google 4.8): We love that this app includes six free hypnosis and meditation recordings to help alleviate stress for a peaceful sleep. Plus, there are two versions within the app, one for daytime and one for when you’re awake during the day. Try the very latest hypnotherapy techniques all within this one app.

3 Devices for Better Sleep:

1. Apple Watch Series 7: Wear your Apple Watch to sleep and track your progress. It’s simple. With the Sleep app, you can create bedtime schedules, and in the morning, view your sleep trends. You can create different morning alarms, adjust your weekday vs. weekend sleep schedules and more.
2. Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic: Galaxy users, there’s a way to monitor your sleep as well. With an advanced sleep tracker that detects and holistically analyzes your sleep stages, all of your sleep data is found right on your wrist!
3. Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds: If you prefer certain sounds when you sleep, consider earbuds that block out the noise. You also have the option to play soothing music as you fall asleep while utilizing the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) feature to block out unwanted noise while you rest.

With the right mindset and a few sleep apps and devices to help, we hope you’re ready to spring forward into a new season with positive sleep habits and a fresh outlook. To learn more about the latest devices and how to use them this spring, visit your local Verizon Victra store and speak with one of our friendly team members.