Time change: We "fall back," but that doesn't mean more sleep
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Clocks "fall back" at 2am Sunday — but sleep experts say that doesn't mean you'll feel more rested.
Why it matters: The shift from daylight saving to standard time can disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to poorer sleep, even if you gain an hour.
By the numbers: Average awake time in bed increased 2% in the week after last fall's shift to standard time for more than 76,000 Oura members, compared to the week prior, the smart ring company tells Axios.
- And they had a higher resting heart rate, more sedentary time and less sleep overall the week after the time change, per Oura.
What we're hearing: Even when people are "gaining time," their internal clocks are still disrupted, Anita Shelgikar, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and neurology professor at University of Michigan Medical School, tells Axios.
State of play: 65% of Americans would like to stop changing their clocks biannually, according to an Economist/YouGov poll of 1,623 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 24–27.
Between the lines: Although many Americans in the poll say they prefer permanent daylight saving time, Shelgikar and other scientists support staying "fallen back" in standard time year-round.
- She says it would keep Americans more aligned with their circadian rhythms.
To ease the time zone transition, Shelgikar recommends relying on environmental cues.
- Get sunlight first thing in the morning.
- Keep regular meal and workout schedules — and not too close to bedtime.
- Make your bedroom dark and cool.
What we're watching: This year At least 35 states have considered or are considering legislation to ditch the twice-a-year clock change.
