This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Hatch but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
"Moms are definitely no strangers to the juggling act of parenthood, but just when it feels like you finally have your jam-packed back-to-school fall routine down to a science, daylight savings time comes along and throws a huge curveball your way. The dreaded days of it becoming dark outside at practically 2 p.m. (okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic—but it sure does feel that early sometimes) can disrupt your family’s schedules, leaving us all feeling a little sleep-deprived and out of sorts.
It’s easy to feel like the day has completely slipped away from you when you can literally see the light leaving your house before the kid’s bedtime even approaches. For our health (and sanity), it’s important that we take the time to hone in on our acts of self-care so that end-of-the-year burnout doesn’t rear its ugly head. We know how hard it is to avoid that cloud of gloom during the winter months so we’ve got you covered with some tried-and-true hacks.
From must-try products to fool-proof productivity tips, there are a ton of daylight savings essentials out there that will help keep your life feeling on track during this big adjustment period, and we’ve taken the time to pick out some of our favorites. Below, you’ll find five of our go-to hacks to help you navigate the seasonal time change with grace. Let’s banish those blues and make this time of year more bearable for everyone:
1. Prioritize a restful sleep
Making sure to keep a consistently restful sleep schedule is a crucial part of coming out on top of daylight savings season. After a full day of wrangling little humans and their big personalities, it’s totally expected to feel depleted by 4 p.m. And now that daylight savings has them waking up an hour earlier than usual, you’re getting even less sleep than usual. It’s notoriously difficult to calm your mind down after day full of stimulation and carrying an entire family’s mental load—but there is a solution we can personally vouch for. The moms on our team use Hatch Restore 2 to get a full night of deep sleep, and we can’t stop raving about all its helpful features.
Hatch Restore 2 offers an innovative solution to help you form healthy sleep habits that are meant to last. I’m personally guilty of falling asleep to the TV, but that sort of stimulation never provides the brain the proper wind down it needs. The Restore 2 guides your body with light and sound cues, training you to understand both when it’s time to go to bed and when it’s time to get up which keeps you on a consistent schedule throughout your whole week. It also aids in creating a peaceful pre-sleep and post-sleep routine by coaching you through meditations and mindfulness exercises, turning these moments into restful rituals rather than just aimlessly waiting to fall asleep and waking up groggy.
All in all, Hatch Restore 2 seriously simplifies the art of getting a good night’s sleep. It offers an array of sleep sounds inspired by nature and backed by science, which help drown out distractions and ensure a deeper sleep throughout the whole night. Probably our favorite element is the phone-free controls and companion app, though—it makes it ridiculously easy to customize your routine and cater to your needs. From meditations, sleep stories, soundscapes, curated wind-down channels, and more, Hatch Restore 2 is absolutely one of our top daylight savings essentials tools for improving the wonky sleep quality that comes with an early sun-down and ensuring you wake up feeling refreshed and energized for the day!
Hatch
2. Maintain a consistent schedule
If you’re anything like me, once the sun is down, my brain completely checks out in terms of following a schedule or staying productive. It’s super easy to fall out of a routine once daylight savings rolls around, so maintaining a consistent schedule is a crucial strategy to combat the foggy brain you may be experiencing. Do the best you can to keep meal times, bedtimes, and homework or work hours consistent from day to day. This consistency provides a sense of structure and predictability for both your and your kid’s bodies, helping to manage the disorientation brought on by the time change. Regular meal times support your circadian rhythm and digestive system, and consistent work or homework schedules aid in task planning, time management, and energy levels. In short, try your hardest to not let whether it’s light or dark out affect your daily routine—both your brain and body will thank you for it!
3. Create a calming environment for yourself
While this hack may seem a bit obvious, it’s a super simple way to combat any added stress or anxiety that’s being brought up by missing the sunshine or dealing with a routine shift. Your immediate surroundings play a significant role in influencing your mood and well-being, so creating a peaceful and serene environment that allows you to relax and stay in touch with yourself once the kids are out of the house or put to bed. This can look like de-cluttering your space, incorporating soft, soothing colors and natural elements like plants, and investing in other daylight savings essentials that will make you feel as if your home is an oasis. We’ve included some of our go-to products that come in handy for making a tranquil space for yourself and provide a much-needed recharge during the gloomy days of the season.
4. Spend as much time in the daylight as possible
We totally get that spending as much time in the daylight as you can isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially when juggling the responsibilities of work, taking care of kids, and daily errands. It’s easy to find yourself cooped up inside or just generally preoccupied up until it’s dark out with the days growing shorter, which is a huge contributor to any daylight savings gloom you may be feeling. So, making a conscious effort to incorporate even small moments of natural light into your daily routine can have a significant impact on your overall well-being. Whether it’s taking a brief walk during lunch, opening your curtains to let in more natural light, or simply enjoying your morning coffee by a sunny window, these small moments can provide a much-needed dose of vitamin D and a mood boost.
5. Try using a light therapy lamp
If you’re unable to find an adequate amount of time to spend in the sunshine or if it’s particularly gloomy wherever you live, light therapy lamps are definitely worth giving a shot. By spending time in front of a light therapy lamp, you can alleviate the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), such as low energy, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. Additionally, light therapy has been shown to boost serotonin levels in the brain, promoting a sense of well-being and reducing feelings of depression and anxiety. Integrating one of these into your daily routine can serve as a practical and accessible way to uplift your mood and enhance your overall mental health, making the challenging transition into daylight savings that much more manageable.
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This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Hatch but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.