Is Daylight Saving Time observed where you live?

Do you find it difficult to adjust to the end of Daylight Saving Time every single year?

While “gaining” an extra hour of time seems like a veritable boon in the time department, if you want to make the most your schedule as a whole, you should exercise some care.

In this post, I offer five practical pointers to help make the transition to Daylight Saving Time as smooth as possible.

Keep these time management tips in mind when daylight saving time ends, and you’ll be good to go!

Looking for even more tips when it comes to the end of Daylight Saving Time?

Check out this post for ideas on how to brighten up your home when we “fall” back. 

Avoid filling your extra hour with work or errands.

When we set the clocks back, we’ll have an extra hour to use.

That sounds great, right?

You could finally take care of those personal errands, finish up a little bit of that report for work…but instead of filling that time with day-to-day affairs, why not take that hour for yourself?

You know how you’re always saying you have no time or not enough time for yourself?

Now’s a great opportunity for you to capture some well-deserved “me” time.

You could curl up with a good book, have a nice leisurely breakfast, talk to friends and family, go for a walk in the park, and so on.

Remember, the idea is to stop, relax, and enjoy the time that is available to you.

Why not give it a try?

Open the shades/blinds in your bedroom as soon as you wake up.

Getting used to the end of Daylight Saving Time can be challenging. When we set the clock back, there will be less sunlight in the afternoon and evening. All the more reason to let the sun shine in when it is up in the sky!

When you wake up in the morning, open the blinds and shades in your bedroom, and in the rest of the house. The sunlight will help your body to wake up, plus you may even save a few cents on your electricity bill.

Go ahead and let that natural light flood into your home, instead of relying on an overhead light or corner lamp.

Besides, a sun-drenched house is much more appealing, than a dark one.

Get some much-needed sleep.

Unfortunately, many of us don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis. Sure, you may be tired, yet time after time, you resist going to sleep at a reasonable hour. You end up watching TV or movies, or make poor excuses as to why you should stay up into the wee hours of the night.

Instead of forcing yourself to stay awake, why not just give in, and go to sleep?

Who cares if it’s only 8 or 9 PM? You deserve a good night’s rest. Change into your pajamas, head over to your bed, and get settled in.

If you really want to disconnect, switch off your electronic devices and read a good book or magazine before drifting off to sleep.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR CALENDAR.

The Order Expert’s Guide to Time Management is a hands-on workbook that provides practical solutions to common, everyday time management problems.

Click here to learn more about the workbook >> 

Rethink your approach to time management.

Now is a great time to review and rethink your approach to time management. Earlier in the post, I asked you to avoid filling in the extra hour you gained with work or errands. How else can you make the most of your time in your regular routine?

It’s important to keep in mind time management includes all those little bits of time that swirl about throughout the day and week. While little bits of time may seem insignificant on their own, when added up, they amount to an entire day.

That being said, how can you reframe and rethink your daily approach to your calendar and schedule?

Here’s a few ideas to get you thinking…

Does it make sense to spend your personal, family, or vacation time working? Why not use that time to rest and recharge?

How would you react and spend your time if you were magically given an extra hour to use, every single day?

And finally, what would you do if a meeting was suddenly cancelled or postponed; would you take a much-needed break or would you plow on through with your work?

Make sure to set back your clocks/devices.

When Daylight Saving Time “falls” back, it’s a good idea to check all of your clocks and electronic devices are set back one hour. Otherwise, chaos can ensue when you’re trying to make it on time to an appointment or just trying to figure out the correct time.

Keep in mind, some cellphones and electronic devices automatically update themselves and set their clocks back one hour, while others do not, and need to be manually updated.

To make sure you’re not left in the dark, create a list of timekeeping items and devices to check around your home or office. You may want to check wall clocks, wrist watches, cellphones and smart phones, tablets, computers, MP3 players, and other small electronic devices.

Now would also be a good time to check if watches and clocks need their batteries replaced, or if your electronic devices need any software or system updates.

How about you? How do you feel about the end of Daylight Saving Time? Do you like or dislike it? Which of these tips are you going to try out? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!