Daylight Saving Time 2015: When And Why To ‘Spring Forward,’ And Who Needs To Do It, Plus Survival Tips

Happy Daylight Saving Time 2015. That’s the message from clock-watchers, who are sending out reminders that for the majority of the country, it’s Daylight Saving Time (DST). So grab those devices, alarm clocks, digital recorders, and even your electronic coffee maker and “spring forward” the clock at 2 a.m. on March 8, reported ABC 7.

The impact of setting your clock ahead one hour means that you can spend time in healthy pursuits ranging from walking the dog with your children to gardening. But does that offset the pain of missing that extra hour of sleep?

Daylight Saving Time dates back to World War I, when the Germans adapted it to save energy. The change allowed citizens there to utilize the natural sunlight.

In 1966, the United States adapted the Daylight Saving Time concept. However, if you live in Arizona or Hawaii, you can skip worrying about your clocks and sleep because those two states were not impacted.

When can you regain that extra hour of sleep? That celebratory date is November 1, when most of the nation cheers for the “fall back” sleep-in autumn time shift.

For those who feel stressed about missing an hour of sleep, you have lots of company, according to Forbes. Some are so inflamed by lack of sleep that there are even movements to end DST.

A variety of studies indicate that rather than achieve the goal of saving energy by encouraging the use of natural daylight, DST actually increases it. In addition, researchers cite more heart attacks and other lack-of-sleep-related problems.

One Facebook page is devoted to encouraging people to stop Daylight Saving Time shifts, either by ending it completely or instigating it year round. The mission cited on the group’s page makes it clear.

“TIME TO PUT AN END TO THIS MADNESS!!! It’s the shifting back and forth that makes people crazy. If we are saving energy let’s go year round with Daylight Saving Time. If we are not saving energy let’s drop Daylight Saving Time!”

So how can you survive the time shift? Improve the quality of your sleep to avoid morning sleepiness, suggests Dr. William Lagakos of Calories Proper.

And that can be as simple as choosing the right bedtime snack.

“Three grams of glycine before bed improved sleep quality, which is what likely led to the reduced daytime sleepiness and improved memory performance,” he says of a study.

You could even try having a pre-bed snack of a whey protein shake and Jello, adds Lagakos. What’s the magic of gelatin? It contains glycine, which combined with the protein enhances a deep sleep, helping you wake up refreshed despite that missing hour of sleep.

As to what to eat the day after you’ve lost an hour of sleep, Cindy Crawford recommends eating a low-carb, high-protein diet, as the Inquisitr reported.

“I start out with a protein shake. That gets me through with very even energy,” she explained. “Have a salad for lunch. I feel better with protein so I like a salad with fish or chicken.”

What do you think? Should Daylight Saving Time be abolished? Post your comments below.

[Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images]