That’s right, this weekend marks that time of year again when we all sacrifice an hour of sleep in the wee hours of Sunday morning in order to gain a precious extra hour of daylight to enjoy in the evenings for the next eight months. So mark your calendars and set your alarms because on Sunday, March 10^th, 2013 at 2 a.m. we all need to “spring forward” our clocks one hour as we tear apart the space-time continuum warping time as it instantaneously changes from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Okay, so maybe the space-time continuum thing is a bit embellished, and we simply hit a couple of buttons on our clocks and wind our watches—But that just sounds boring.

Nevertheless, there are some things to take into consideration as we adjust to the time change.

Such as…

You lose an hour of sleep – For our weekend warriors who keep our economy pumping, hospitals running and streets safe 7 days-a-week this loss of an hour of sleep affects you the most.  The rest of us will still feel a bit sluggish come Monday morning, so consider waking up with an invigorating run, or having an extra shot of espresso added to your morning cappuccino might help.

It feels like you are waking up earlier (because you are) – If you already have a tough time waking up in the morning, prepare to wake up an hour earlier. Though your clock easily adjusts to the changing time, your mind and body take a few days to adapt.

*Children, Bed Time and Naps – You may find it beneficial to start bed time and nap times earlier, perhaps in increments, over the next couple of days to help young children adjust.

Darkness in the Mornings – For those of you who wake up before the rooster crows, it may feel like the middle of the night when you open your eyes. This is because the extra hour of beautiful daylight added to our evenings, means we sacrifice an hour of daylight in the morning leaving us to stumble in the dark as we work our way over to the coffee maker and our morning shower when we wake-up.

Enjoy Outdoor Activities – Get outside and have some fun!  You can once again cycle, run or go on a vigorous walk, all the while taking in that beautiful sunshine that is now available to you courtesy of the longer days!

Three letters…B-B-Q! – Grab the grill and head out onto your patio or porch with your favorite meats, vegetables and seasonings. Your barbecue grill is a great tool for adding flavor, while avoiding high calorie add-ons like butter and oil.

Arizona – Welcome back to Pacific Time! AZ, aka the rebels of Daylight Saving Time here in the contiguous 48 United States, doesn’t participate in Daylight Saving Time.  So most of this article doesn’t affect you, however, feel free to forward it to your family and friends who live out-of-state. Here is a short link to make it easier for you to share – http://wp.me/plvU-MH

Hawaii – aka island paradise, also does not participate in Daylight Saving Time. Since Hawaii is located near Earth’s equator there is little deviation in the amount of daylight they have whether it is summer, spring, fall or winter. Just remember to add an hour to the time difference when visiting or calling your mainland friends and family. Aloha nui loa!

Don’t forget to set these clocks:

• Car
• Bedroom alarm clock
• Stove
• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• DVD and or VCR
• Wrist watch (all of them if you have more than one)
• Wall clocks
• Phone (if it doesn’t automatically update)
• Computer or laptop (Again, if it doesn’t automatically update)
• Voicemail time stamps and answering machines
• Guest bedrooms
• Kid’s rooms and alarm clocks
• HOTEL ALARM CLOCK – if you will be away for the weekend

Spring is in the air and summer is around the corner, so it’s time to buckle-down and prepare for swimsuit season. Have a wonderful weekend!

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