The change from Eastern Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am on the first Sunday in October. The clock springs forward 1 hour.
While the effects of Daylight Saving Time on neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s can be challenging, there are strategies to help manage them.
Adjusting bedtime: Gradually change your bedtime schedule by going to bed and waking up 15-30 minutes earlier each day a couple of days before Daylight Saving Time starts. This can help your body adapt more to the time change.
Ensure you get good sleep: The restorative effects of sleep can improve health and help people living with Parkinson’s better manage the disease on a daily basis, so ensuring you get enough quality sleep is essential.
Tips for better sleep include:
- Keep a regular sleep schedule – go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time.
- Choose your bedtime based on when you want to get up. Plan to spend seven to eight hours a night in bed.
- Make a bedtime routine – for example, snack, bath, tooth-brushing, toileting – and follow it every evening.
- Spend time outdoors and exercise every day, in the morning if possible. Avoid exercise after 8:00 pm.
- If you nap, try to do so at the same time every day, for no more than an hour, and not after 3:00 pm.
- Do not read or watch television in bed.
Adjusting medication routines: A common question for people living with Parkinson’s is how this will affect their daily medication routines. Should we follow the Daylight Saving clock time, or the ‘real’ time?
The advice from our Parkinson’s Nurses is to stick to your routine by the clock. That means using the new Daylight Saving Time as your guide for taking medication.
If you normally take your dose at 8am for example, then continue to take it at 8am, or whatever your regular times are after you have adjusted the clock to Daylight Saving Time.
However, you should also be aware that you could feel some other effects from the time change. Research has shown that rolling the clocks forward at this time of year can cause sleep disruption.
So give yourself time to adjust and take additional rest if you feel like you need it during the transition to Daylight Saving Time.
Maintain other daily routines by the clock: Make a point of keeping up your exercise routines – and especially get out in the sun whenever you can. Exposure to sunlight will help your body to make the adjustment to the new time as well.
Stick to a daily schedule, including mealtimes, bedtime, and exercise. A structured routine can help reduce disruptions caused by daylight saving time.
Care partner support: Care partners, family members, and friends should be aware of the potential impact of Daylight Saving Time on their loved ones with Parkinson’s. Offering additional support and understanding during this period can make a significant difference.
People with Parkinson’s already face difficulties with mobility and sleep disturbances. Daylight saving time can exacerbate these symptoms. Proper medication management, maintaining a consistent schedule, and engaging in light physical activity can help mitigate these effects.
A common question for people living with Parkinson’s is how this will affect their daily medication routines. Should we follow the Daylight Savings clock time, or the ‘real’ time?
The advice from our Parkinson’s Nurses is to stick to your routine by the clock. That means using the new Daylight Saving’s Time as your guide for taking medication.
If you normally take your dose at 8am for example, then continue to take it at 8am, or whatever your regular times are after you have adjusted the clock to Daylight Savings Time.
However, you should also be aware that you could feel some other effects from the time change. Research has shown that rolling the clocks forward at this time of year can cause sleep disruption.
So give yourself time to adjust, and take additional rest if you feel like you need it during the transition to Daylight Saving Time.
Also make a point of keeping up your exercise routines – and especially get out in the sun whenever you can. Exposure to sunlight will help your body to make the adjustment to the new time as well.
If you have any questions, call Parkinson’s NSW (02) 8051 1900
