How the fall time change affects your sleep, mood, and energy levels

Daylight saving time officially ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks revert back to standard time. But despite gaining an extra hour of sleep this weekend, that time shift can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, affecting your overall mood and sleep quality. “I think that people notice falling back more because it often comes with colder weather, and we lose an hour of sunlight at the end of the day,” said Dr. Jan Miller, an Athens-based licensed psychologist with Thriveworks. The November time change sometimes hits harder because it falls at the start of a busy and stressful holiday season, Miller said. This can all lead to poor sleep, mood changes, and dips in energy levels. “People really start feeling the winter blues this time of year, which can be challenging if you have seasonal affective disorder or anxiety,” she added. People often experience changes in sleep and mood after the fall time change. (Photo by Ron Lach at pexels.com) Just like jet lag “T