Daylight Saving Time Always Gets Me Down. I’m Using This Technology for My Recovery

As it is, I’m not a very good sleeper but if you add up daylight saving timeeven that 1 hour time change can disrupt my circadian rhythmalso known as the body’s internal clock. Every year, this leaves me tired, stressed and feeling “tired,” but I’m not the only one. Daylight saving time is known to have unwanted effects in our physical and mental health.

This year, I intend to fight back. As a wellness technology writer, I know how certain devices can be helpful in managing our sleep, nervous systems and overall well-being, so I will use that knowledge to my advantage. Rather than lying down (as I just want to lie down to rest), I will use the following techniques to help my body recover during daylight saving time.

1. Sunrise alarm clock

I Hatch Restore 3 for CNET favorite sunrise alarm clockand for good reason. Like similar devices, it uses customizable light that mimics the sunrise to wake you up nicely and you can pair it with equally gentle wake-up sounds if you’re a heavy sleeper and need that extra sound to get you out of bed. It also works as a bedside lamp as well white noise machine.

As a light sleeper who uses blackout curtains, I love that this alarm clock simulates the sunrise to signal to my body when it’s time to wake up — especially during the time change. I much prefer it to a loud, blaring alarm that scares me when I wake up.

The white noise machine feature of the Restore 3 also helps me fall asleep and stay asleep while listening to the soothing sounds of the waterfall. Then, when it’s time to wake up, it switches to the morning ringtones I’ve chosen as my alarm. With a Hatch+ subscription ($50 per year or $5 per month), you get access to additional sounds, meditations, podcasts and news.

If the sunrise alarm clock is not for you, you can use it too smart lights to help your body adapt.

“Today’s smart lights allow you to schedule times to turn on or increase or decrease the light at the times of the day when you need it most,” said Tyler Lacoma, CNET’s smart home editor. “Many smart bulbs also include color temperature settings so you can set the lights to warm tones to easily mimic a sunset or sunrise. You can also look at daylight modes for details but I recommend starting with a schedule if you’re trying to overcome DST fatigue.”

2. Oura Ring

It can be difficult to know how well you slept from one night to the next based on how you feel. That’s why I use mine Oura Ringdata to see exactly what my sleep is like: its different stages, my breathing while I sleep and my sleep score, which summarizes the overall quality of my rest. This information helps me decide if I’m going to take it easy during the day or take it out during my workout.

There are others types of sleep trackerssuch as smart watches and mattress and coverbut I choose mine smart ring because it is very easy to wear while sleeping. However, I wouldn’t recommend tracking your sleep if it makes you anxious, especially during an already stressful time like daylight savings time.

3. Smart water bottle

I have written a poem about how much money I love my smart water bottlei Larq PureVis 2 bottleto find out drink enough water every day. I’ve noticed that when I’m tired or on a flexible sleep schedule (I’m looking at you, DST), I tend to struggle with dehydration, which makes me feel even more tired. This water bottle helps me pick up the slack and I’m so thankful that its cap lights up to remind me to drink.

4. Brick

Some of the things I experience when I’m tired: doomscrolling. When I’m tired, it can be challenging for me to get off my phone in favor of my favorite free time activities, like reading a book, going for a walk, bird watchingexercising, cooking or baking or simply spending time outside in nature.

To reduce my phone time, I have been checking i A brickmagnet that you use to temporarily block selected apps and websites from your device. Unlike screen time apps that you can easily disable on your phone, Brick is a portable tool that you have to tap on your phone to block and unlock your apps.

For Stina to work, you put it somewhere out of reach (mine is in my fridge) so you actually have to move your body to use it. This creates more purpose in how and when you spend time on your devices.

5. Air conditioner

Obviously, I’m not at my best when I’m tired, and unfortunately, this applies to what I eat at the end of a long, post-DST day. The last thing I want to do when I don’t have the energy is to cook, so I use simple, quick, healthy recipes air fryer.

Last year, I spoke with registered dieticians to learn more about this the healthiest ways to make it in the air fryer with little oil. As a vegetarian, my favorites include air-fried vegetables as well French frieswhich i like as sides. For a snack, crispy veggie chips are perfect, or I’d recommend trying CNET Editor Corin Cesaric’s recipe crispy air fryer chickpeas. You can even roast a whole chicken in your air cell.

In the kitchen department, honorable mentions go to me The Vitamix, Instant Pot again KitchenAid stand mixer making prep and cooking a breeze when I need it most.

An important point

If, like me, you struggle to get used to daylight saving time, you might want to consider using the devices you have to make the seasonal change easier on your body. After all, that’s the purpose of this technology: to make our lives easier, especially when we need it most.