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

Beyond Facts-The Deep Dive

✨ In this episode, Beyond Facts: Reimagining School–in the Age of AI . . . This week's podcast is a bit different; it's another example of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can offer tools to creatively enhance your analytical presentation of information. We took this week's blog and copied it into Gemini with the question, “If a story is to work, it must, on some level, create an illusion of escape and also achieve a goal simultaneously. Does this apply to my blog post that follows?” What's created is not just an analysis of the writing, but an AI-generated discussion produced “On the Fly” - Enjoy! Did you know that the word "school" comes from the ancient Greek word scholē , which originally meant "leisure"? Not a rigid schedule or droning lectures filled with "facts," but free time for thinking and conversation. To the Greeks, learning happened best when life slowed down—when you had room to reflect, to ask questions, and to wrestle ...

A Heart Full of Thanks

Oh, the thanks I could think, and the thanks I could say! For the wonderful people who brightened my day. The first one is Lori, my wife, sweet and true, Who knows just the thing and knows just what to do. She whipped up a feast with a smile and a sigh, With corn on the cob and a steak cooked “On the Fly!” My neighbor, Steve, with a mischievous gleam, Said, “No fence work today! No work, it would seem! You’ll paint with some water, some colors so bright, And sign your new painting with all of your might!" I laughed and I said, “But I don’t know that skill! I’ll slap on some paint and see what sticks still!” Then there’s my friends on the Facebook machine, The best group of readers that ever was seen! They read all my blogs and they hear my podcasts, They send all their cheer that's built to last! And Billy and Linda. A Snoopy card in the mail. A wonderful surprise that was sure to prevail! From very good friends, a delightful new tale ! But the thanks didn't stop, no, not...

The Summer Surprise

In this special episode, The Summer Surprise . . . Well, howdy there! It's me, Huck Finn, and lemme tell ya, somethin' special happened just the other day. We called it "The Summer Surprise.” Phew-wee! That ol' post box, it coughed up somethin' good! Wasn't no bills, nor them pesky ads, and thankfully, no regular ol' rocks neither. Nope, this here was a letter, folded up neat as a pin, looked a bit like one o' them school lockers, just sittin' there waitin' to be opened. It was from young Sierra, a mighty fine friend, and she'd gone and made some pure, honest-to-goodness artwork with her own two hands. My fingers they was all thumbs, just itching to see what kind of wild wonder she'd whipped up this time. I unfolded that paper, careful-like, you know, and bless my bare feet, there it was! A picture of a whole gymnasium and a mini-soccer field, all done up in colors that just popped. She'd used crayons and pencils, and you could tel...

A Pirate's Ponderings

In this episode, A Pirate's Ponderings: Turning 69 with a Classic . . . When was the last time you were so compelled by a quest that you had your bags packed and your boots on before the first rooster crowed? For me, this summer has been exactly that, a journey where the world outside faded away and the one inside my head roared to life. I felt like that young cabin boy in training, with the vast ocean of a great story stretching out before me. My hand was on the wheel, navigating every swell, riding the waves, and eager to see what lay just beyond the horizon. This wasn't a journey across lands, but a flight of imagination that has been an exciting ride. My adventure took off on the deck of the Hispaniola as I became lost on Treasure Island . My imagination soared, and I could almost taste the salt spray and feel the ship's timbers groan as we sailed toward our destiny. Below deck, in the narrow, shadowy depths, I could smell the hearty meals Long John Silver and Jim Haw...

On The Fly

Search This Blog