Brighten up your home and mood when the clocks go back

Find out our top tips on how to uplift your mood during Daylight Saving Time here.

It's that time of year already, the clocks are changing on the 27th of October. Find out our top tips on how to lift your mood and home, from getting enough sleep, to using uPVC windows to your advantage during Daylight Saving Time.

We may get a dreamy extra hour in bed, but many people dread the clocks going back on the last Sunday in October. From disrupted sleeping patterns to a rise in diagnosed cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the clocks going back is a sudden change that affects the population in various ways each year.

Although some of the disturbances of the clocks changing may be expected, such as adjustments to your sleeping pattern, there are some knock on effects of Daylight Saving Time that can be quite severe. For example, the University of Colorado Boulder conducted research into the link between Daylight Saving Time and road traffic accidents, and found that the number of accidents spiked by 17% following the clock change.

Why can mood and productivity be affected by the clocks going back?

Daylight Saving Time affects our circadian rhythm, which is how our bodies regulate our body clock, and is dictated by light. With the sudden jolt of the clocks going back, our circadian rhythms can be thrown off, negatively affecting mood and productivity. However, there are a number of ways to beat the winter blues kicking in on the 28th of October.

Uplifting your home and mood

We may not be able to prevent feeling a little groggy after the clock change, but there are some methods you can try to help you feel better, both in your mind and body, and in the home.

Take the time to relax

It can take up to 3 days to adjust to your new sleeping pattern after being disrupted by a clock change, so it is important to try and relax as much as possible to get used to your new routine.

Take the time to have a hot relaxing bath, switch off from your devices, and take part in some gentle exercise to help your mind truly relax, allowing you more chance of a good night’s sleep.

Diet and exercise

Craving carbs? This is a common problem faced by many people when the clocks go back. Although the long, dark, winter nights may make you want to get straight home from work, binge on Netflix and eat crisps to your heart’s content, this will only add to you feeling sluggish with the onset of the winter months.

To combat the fatigue and general low moods that the clocks going back can cause, try to exercise and eat well, including lots of leafy greens and protein filled foods into your diet to keep your mind and body healthy.

Get enough light

Vitamin D is a great mood booster, which we get from sunlight. To get maximum daylight potential, open your blinds and curtains as soon as you wake up. There are special SAD lights available on the market, but the best option to boost your mood is to be exposed to natural light.

Feeling too cosy to leave the house? Try our uPVC windows and doors in your home to access as much natural light as possible without having to step out of the comfort of your home into the winter cold. If you’re looking for more ways to allow a lot of natural daylight into your home yet still keeping warm, a uPVC conservatory is a great option. Sitting in a room made entirely of glass allows you to take in the day’s light and provides a great uplift in your mood.

Do you have any special tips or routines that you employ to help you feel uplifted during the change of the clocks? Let us know in the comments.