WASHINGTON — It may be a little hard to believe with all the snow outside, but it’s almost time to “spring forward.”
Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 a.m. Sunday, and while most people handle the semiannual time change just fine, it can be a problem for some.
“There are always a few people that struggle with sleep in general, and for those folks, the transition may be a little bit more difficult,” says Dr. Neal Maru, a sleep specialist with Integrated Neurology Services in Northern Virginia.
Think of the time change as a mild case of jet lag. Normal healthy sleepers have no problem with shifting one time zone, but for those with insomnia or an unpredictable schedule, it can be challenging.
Maru urges them to ease into Daylight Saving Time.
“I usually recommend that they start a day or two in advance and gradually move the bedtime a bit earlier — 20 minutes a night or 30 minutes a night,” he says, adding “that would be a great way to make a smooth transition.”
The goal for people with a tendency toward sleep deprivation is to prevent the condition from entering dangerous territory.
Maru says he keeps reminding people that “any time you are losing sleep, that can potentially put you and others at risk, especially if you are going to be behind the wheel of a car.”
WebMD offers 10 tips for “springing forward.”
