As we all set our clocks back an hour for daylight savings this Fall, it can be hard to fall and stay asleep as you always do.
Disrupted sleep can be debilitating with side effects such as fatigue, brain fog, grogginess, foiled focus, memory messes, depression, and anxiety.
Less to no sleep can also impair the healthy functioning of your immune system because the body gets insufficient time to repair, restore, and renew functional balance while you slumber. With the chills of Fall and the dosha dry spells of Vata thrown into the mix, this leaves you vulnerable to a long, cold winter of health issues such as chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, frequent colds, indigestion, and even excessive weight loss or gain.
Keep your sleep cycle on point without missing a wink with our simple & quick Ayurvedic Daylight Savings guide:
Nothing sets your bodyโs internal clock better than exposing it to the natural morning light. Besides the Vitamin D enrichment, spending time outdoors at or a little after dawn helps your body adjust to the daylight hours transition. Since primordial times, humans have been hardwired with innately regulated circadian rhythms without needing external intervention i.e. alarms or someone waking us up; you donโt either!
Keep sleep from dawning on you only at dawn by going to bed and waking up an hour earlier than your usual times. You can start by incrementally adjusting your sleep and wake-up times by 15-30 minutes each day leading up to the daylight savings phase to help your body adapt little by little. Segue your sleep and body into daylightโs saving mode with our Healthy Sleep infused with the herbal sleep sleuths of Valerian, Nutmeg, and Tulsi (Holy Basil).
As we move from a dry, chilly Vata dosha season (Fall) to the sluggish, damp Kapha dosha season (Winter), wrap up those all-nighters and resist the temptation to stay up late or take an afternoon nap so your daily routine isnโt disrupted by daylight savings. Keep your mind as sharp as a tack and productivity from waning to the seasonโs slothfulness with Jatamansi Powder.
Avoid caffeine later than 6 p.m. and stick to early, light, easy-to-digest, and nourishing meals for dinner with lots of spices, bitter greens, wholesome lentils, and beans without distractions. This helps you enjoy a peaceful meal and stay satiated for longer hours through the night while keeping late-night munchies or digestive discomfort at bay.
Cozy up with a warm cup of gut and skin-loving Chamomile Tea or immunity-amping Golden Milk after dinner to lock in natural hydration, calm your nerves, and instill a blanket of inner warmth to seduce that elusive slumber.
Curb any elevated cortisol (stress hormone) in your body with unwinding activities such as meditation, gentle yoga, listening to music, chanting, reading a light-hearted book or graphic novel, mandala coloring, etc. so sleep comes easily to you despite the daylight savings change.
Drown your dayโs worries in a warm, fragrant bath or diffuse the soothing scents of aromatic oils like Lavender or Sandalwood to lull your senses and nervous system to sleep. (Psst..check out our Aroma Ebook to unlock more scented secrets for wellness.)
(Psst..check out our Aroma Ebook to unlock more scented secrets for wellness.)
With personalization and balance at the heart of all things Ayurveda, as always, remember to listen to your body & mind and customize these tips to match your individual needs and doshas (body energies).
(Psst..check out our Aroma Ebook to unlock more scented secrets for wellness.)
With personalization and balance at the heart of all things Ayurveda, as always, remember to listen to your body & mind and customize these tips to match your individual needs and doshas (body energies).
