We all will get one less hour of precious sleep this weekend because it’s time to set our clocks forward one hour for daylight saving time.
Daylight saving time was instituted in the United States during World War I to save energy for war production. During World War II, the government again required the states to observe the time change.
For the time between the two wars -- and after World War II -- states and communities individually chose whether to observe daylight saving time. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which standardized the length of daylight saving time.
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In 2007, daylight saving time became four weeks longer because of the passage of the Energy Policy Act. The thought behind the act was that extending daylight saving time could save the country 10,000 barrels of oil each day as businesses reduced power usage during daylight hours.
More than 1 billion people in about 70 countries throughout the world observe daylight saving time.
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On the second Sunday of March at 2 a.m., we lose an hour when we set our clocks forward. We get it back in the fall when we turn our clocks backward on the first Sunday of November.
Hence the “spring forward, fall back” phrase to help us remember which direction we’re moving.
The disruption to our normal schedules can cause sleep problems.
Good sleep is important to good health, said Todd Palmer, sleep technologist at UPMC Passavant's Sleep Center.
“A lack of sleep not only significantly affects your mood and impairs your overall daily performance, it also can impair your health, including an increased risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even obesity," he said.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, there really is no set number of hours of sleep that an average adult should get because there are so many variables to consider.
Most sleep experts agree, though, that seven to eight hours of sleep is a reasonably accurate number to aim for each night. Anything less might be harmful to your health.
Todd's tips to a better night’s sleep:
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Turn off the technology -- television, cell phones and your laptop.
Set a regular bedtime and wake-up time.
Limit stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, large meals, exercise and even noise and light before you settle in for the night.
Set the right temperature. The ideal temperature for sleeping is 65 degrees.
Your bed is key to a good night's sleep. Make sure your pillow and mattress are comfortable and offer the best support to your body
Don’t let the bedbugs bite!
