Fight the Daylight Saving Sleep Deficit

Sleepmaker’s tips to improving sleep as the clocks spring forward –

It’s that time of year again, when Australians in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory reset their clocks and try to readjust to the Daylight Saving time change.

The bad news is that a human’s internal clock isn’t as easy to reset as the ones on a computer or phone. When the clocks move forward on October 6th, much of the nation will be robbed of an hour of sleep leaving them tired and groggy.

And struggling to get a peaceful night’s slumber can continue throughout Spring and Summer with many people observing later bed times and taking longer to fall asleep due to the heat.

Brooke Daley, Sleepmaker Brand Manager, said the beginning of daylight saving is the ideal opportunity for Australians to consider how their sleeping habits can be improved.

“Losing an hour of sleep as the clocks spring forward can affect people’s body clocks, which in turn affects energy, mood and stress levels. By planning for daylight saving it’s easy to minimise the impact that losing an hours’ sleep can have to ensure that we can remain sharp and focused throughout the day.

In preparation for daylight saving Sleepmaker recommends the following tips to minimise sleep disruption and prevent a bleary eyed and irritable start to the day.

1. Prepare gradually. Go to bed 15 minutes early in the week leading up to daylight saving to help manage the sleep deficit.
2. Spend Saturday night in. Avoid a night out drinking with friends or indulging in late, restaurant dining before the clocks spring forward. Alcohol and rich food consumed close to bed time can affect sleep.
3. Get active. Get some exercise during the day. This will help you to feel tired and ready for bed, ensuring that you get a good nights’ sleep.
4. Instigate a ‘digital sun down’. Switch off all your digital devices such as smartphones, iPads and the TV at least one hour before bed to make it easier to fall asleep.
5. Invest in a good mattress and pillow. Having the right mattress matched to the correct pillow can improve the quality of your sleep significantly. If your mattress is more than seven years old it could be time for a new one that suits your changing body needs. Use the Sleepmaker Mattress Selector to find the mattress that is best for you http://www.sleepmaker.com.au/mattressselector/step1.asp.

Notes to editors:
Sleepmaker is owned by the The Comfort Group, a privately owned family business established by the Turner family in New Zealand, and is stocked in all major retailers across Australia.
http://www.sleepmaker.com.au/
http://www.sleepmaker.com.au/mattressselector/step1.asp
The Comfort Group