Winter time better coping with time change

Winter time: better time change

26/10/2014

Well rested? The time change last night has given us an hour more sleep. But not all people find the change from summer to winter good. Especially with early risers the conversion often confuses the biorhythm. However, there are some tips on how to use the so-called „winter Blues“ better cope.

Biorhythm is messed up
Last night the clocks were reset from 3 o'clock to 2 o'clock. But not all people are happy about the given hour of sleep. The confused biorhythms are causing problems for many. For the human body, the time change is truly not a routine. Especially during the adaptation phase, many people suffer from health problems such as chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating and sleeping, blood pressure fluctuations, headaches, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, irritability and listlessness.

Especially early risers have problems
Above all, early birds feel something like a small jet lag when switching to the winter time, as their internal clock gets out of tune and must adapt to the new time again. „One hour is clearly noticeable, ten minutes could still be compensated“, Julia Scharnhorst from the Professional Association of German Psychologists (BDP) told the news agency dpa. Depending on the sleep type, the problems with the change will be different. The so-called „owls types“, Those who go to bed late and sleep longer in the morning, are happy about the extra hour of sleep. According to Scharnhorst, her biorhythm is already adapted to the winter season. On the other hand they need „Lerch types“, who go to bed early and get up early, a few days to get used to the changeover. To the „larks“ mostly include children and seniors.

Use this morning for household chores
Early risers are advised by Scharnhorst to gradually get accustomed to the wintertime and to get up in the first days, for example, only half an hour instead of an entire hour later. It would be even better not to get used to the winter time, but to go to bed at the usual summer time and get up, so as not to disturb the biorhythm. The morning hour could be used by the early risers, for example, to do household chores. And in the evening, a short walk or bike ride the all too early fatigue drive.

Lack of daylight affects hormone production
Because it gets dark earlier in the evening, the lack of daylight also affects hormone production. As a result, many people have difficulty getting started in the morning. „The light-dependent hormones that are supposed to wake us up are not there yet“, So Scharnhorst. It therefore recommends that all types of sleep, during the day and especially on weekends a lot of daylight to move, to prevent the winter blues. The amount of light is higher even in overcast skies than in the office or apartment. Professionals should use the lunch break to get some fresh air. This also boosts the circulation, activates body cells and can thus strengthen the immune system.

Celebrate the cold season with cheese fondue and baked apple
The expert advises basically to see the dark season positive and to stay relaxed when the sun shines less. So it could help to make it comfortable at home with candles and autumnal branches, to arrange with friends for a game night and to celebrate the cold season with cheese fondue, mulled wine and baked apple. In addition, those who fall into murky mood in the dark months despite much movement in daylight, help with daylight lamps, artificially extend the short sunshine duration. Ideally, they should be turned on in the late afternoon. The psychologist, however, points out: „But that does not have to work for everyone.“ (Ad)