Spring Forward Shenanigans

In this episode – Spring Forward Shenanigans . . .

Welcome back to On the Fly! With daylight saving time starting tomorrow, we're all about to lose an hour of sleep. But fear not, for I bring you tidings of great joy – we've got a few tips to help you adjust smoothly to Spring Forward. Yes, tomorrow marks the annual Daylight-Saving Timeshift (DST). We all know the drill—clocks spring forward by one hour at 2:00 a.m., giving us an extra hour of sunlight in the evening. But let's be honest—that one-hour jump can wreak havoc on our sleep schedules and leave us groggy for days.

While the energy-saving benefits of DST are debatable these days, it's still a practice followed in many parts of the world. And let's face it, those extra evening hours of sunlight can be nice!

Adjusting to the Time Change:

But that lost hour of sleep can mess with your body clock. Here are some tips to help you adjust to Spring Forward. Sunlight exposure plays a crucial role in regulating your sleep-wake cycle.

Here's how to leverage it –

· Get outside early: As soon as possible after waking up, expose yourself to bright natural light. This helps suppress melatonin production and energizes you for the day.

· Brighten your workspace: If you work indoors, try positioning your desk near a window for maximum natural light exposure. At least open the blinds to enjoy the morning sunrise.

Optimize Your Sleep Environment –

Your bedroom should be a sleep sanctuary. Here's how to create an ideal sleep environment:

· Cool it down: The ideal sleep temperature is around 60-67°F (15-19°C). A cooler environment promotes deeper sleep.

· Dim the Lights: Avoid bright screens and artificial lights in the evening. This will signal your body that it's time to wind down.

· Stick to a Routine: Keep your sleep schedule consistent, even on weekends. This will help your body to adjust more quickly.

· Beware of the Caffeine Crash: Limit your caffeine intake in the afternoon and evening, as it can interfere with sleep.

· Relaxation Techniques: If you're having trouble falling asleep, try relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation.

By following these tips, you can minimize the disruption caused by Spring Forward and get back to feeling your best quickly. Remember, your body might take a few days to adjust fully, so be patient with yourself.

Here's a little bonus tip for you night owls: Use the extra hour of evening sunlight to exercise or spend time outdoors. Not only will this help you to tire yourself out before bed, but it's also a great way to enjoy the extra daylight!

Thanks for joining us - On the Fly! Adjusting to daylight saving time takes time. By following these tips and being patient with yourself, you can minimize the disruption and get back to feeling your best.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Resurrecting the '90s Graphite

Let’s face it, there’s a certain danger in reading John Gierach's Trout Bum . His wit, self-deprecation, and sharp, effortless satire are entirely infectious. If you aren't careful, his words will inspire you to drop everything, wade into a freezing river, and try to outsmart a creature with a brain the size of a lentil. In my case, re-reading Gierach recently didn't send me straight to the river. It sent me digging through the dusty, spider-guarded corners of my garage. In the early 1990s, seeking a natural escape from Manhattan's concrete canyons, I decided to learn to cast a fly rod. I bought an Orvis Rocky Mountain —eight-and-a-half feet, three ounces, built for a five-weight line—and had absolutely no idea how to use it. To avoid aimlessly whipping the water like scrambling eggs, I took fly-fishing lessons from Al Cucci, co-author of Hatches , on the Delaware River. With his guidance, I fished renowned waters: the AuSable in New York and Michigan, and New Jersey...

A B+ Kind of Life

Welcome back to this week's On the Fly . Retirement has taught me something unexpected: life gets a lot more enjoyable when you stop chasing perfection. Lately, I've been having an absolute blast playing executive par-3 courses like Rancho Carlsbad . A short iron, a sunny morning, and nowhere to be except the next tee—that's my kind of day. This Thursday, though, I'm raising the stakes. I'm heading to The Links at Lakehouse in San Marcos, a full-size par-71 course with enough water hazards to keep the local fish well-stocked with my golf balls. After shooting a 64 on a par-3 course, I've set myself a new goal: shoot an 89 before my birthday next August. Why 89? Because on a par-71 course, that's bogey golf—one extra stroke per hole. For non-golfers, think of it this way: par is like earning 100% on a final exam. Bogey golf is a solid B+. You got the job done, learned something, and probably had a lot more fun getting there. The older I get, the more I appre...

From Mailbox to Microphone

In this episode, catching up with Sierra . What happens when you combine a little imagination, modern digital tools, and the willingness to make a glorious, muddy mess? You get our guest’s latest project. I’m Patrick Ball. Welcome back to On the Fly . Today, we are diving into the world of native plants and guerrilla gardening with twelve-year-old creator Sierra. After watching her impressive, self-produced tutorial on how to make ‘Seed Balls,’ I had to know how she did it. It’s incredibly inspiring to watch Sierra evolve from a young artist wielding crayons and stationery into a savvy digital creator. She’s writing scripts, mastering voiceovers, and editing—all to make a positive, green impact on her local community. “She shoots, she scores, and she’s here to tell us all about it.” Please welcome Sierra to On the Fly ! Let’s get into it. Audio interview . . . For more blog posts showcasing Sierra’s talents, see: The Mailbox Surprise . . . and The Summer Surprise I’m Patrick Ball. Sta...

The Birth of a Cubs Legend

In this episode, The 162-Game Exhale — and the Birth of a Cubs Legend There’s a hush in the baseball world on Game 162 — a collective breath drawn in and slowly released. Scoreboards stop flipping. Dugouts empty. For six months, the game has been our steady heartbeat, pulsing from the cherry blossoms of Tokyo in March to the crisp, playoff-charged winds of late September. And now, as the regular season exhales, baseball fans everywhere pause to absorb the story we’ve just lived. For me, that story has been deeply personal. This season unfolded in the rhythms of my daily life. It was the summer soundtrack echoing beneath the constant turmoil of politics and sensational headlines. It was a handful of carefully chosen ballpark pilgrimages stitched together with countless nights in front of MLB.TV. And at the center of it all, for a lifelong Cubs fan like me, it revolved around one name — a young center fielder who turned hope into history: Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 2025 season didn’t begin...

On The Fly

Search This Blog