An extra hour of daylight

You may have noticed that the days are starting to get lighter earlier and staying lighter for longer. Temperatures start to rise again, and park picnics become more popular!

As Spring kicks in and we get closer to Summer, the clocks will go forward on Sunday 29th March.

Why do we change the clocks?

The clocks change twice a year to maximise natural daylight and save energy, known as 'Daylight Saving Time' (DTS) or 'British Summer Time' (BST). Moving the clocks forward in spring means lighter evenings, whilst turning them back in autumn means brighter mornings.

How will this affect you?

One less hour of sleep! 😴

This is the most important one for students. Whilst it's great that we gain an extra hour of daylight, it means we lose an hour of sleep. It may cause reduced concentration and productivity, but that's because our internal body clocks are out of sync. To help with this, instead of just going to bed an hour earlier, it's suggested to adjust your sleep schedule by 15 minutes each night in the lead-up to the change. This can help your body adjust far better than a big one-hour shift. 

Later sunset 🌅

An extra hour in the day might seem like a great thing, extra time to see friends and do activities, but you might notice you're getting tired early on. That's perfectly normal - as we said before, our body clocks are out of sync, and what would've been your 'bedtime' before (maybe 10pm) is earlier now (9pm). Don't feel pressure to stay up if your friends are. Going to bed at that time, even if it seems earlier, is better for your mind and mental well-being, as that's what your body clock is used to. It just means you might be waking up at 7 am instead of 8 am.

Brighter mornings ☀️

If it is the case that you fall asleep earlier (or what seems like earlier), you might find yourself waking up to the sun at 7am. Sometimes this can be annoying, especially on a weekend when you want a lie-in, but you can have a more relaxed, slower morning. Take this time to make a coffee, sit and watch the quiet morning outside, or even go for a morning walk if you like to exercise before lectures. Or put on a comfort show and take your time to wake up. It might not seem like the most exciting thing, but having that extra bit of serotonin before you start your day has so many benefits.

Tech has your back 🤳

You don't need to stress about your phone or laptop; they'll update the time automatically, but if you've got a battery alarm clock or any other 'old-school' alarms around, you will have to adjust them manually. 

When do the clocks go back again?

The clocks will go back again in October, on Sunday 25th October. That's when we lose the extra hour of daylight, gain an extra hour of sleep, and the days get shorter. Until then, we begin to be in "summer mode"!

It's an ideal time to adjust your sleep schedule and get your sleep routine on the right path. But remember to enjoy the longer days while you can, and make the most of the weather it brings!