Well, it’s official summer is over. I mean summer has technically been over, but nothing really confirms this dreaded realization than the end of daylight savings time. Instead of having warm daylight well beyond 7 pm, now it’s going to be pitch black and cold before dinner is on the table.

So what can we do to keep feeling like our pre-fall back self?

Go To Bed Early Saturday Night

Even though the clock turning back will give you an extra hour, that does not mean that your body will be able to do the same. Your internal clock is still set to the previous time. So while it may only be 2 am (again) your body still thinks it’s 3 am. Don’t kid yourself. You’re exhausted. Go to bed.

*Reminder – Don’t forget to set your manual clocks back before you go to bed. You don’t want to wake up confused about what time it really is.

Wake Up At A Decent Time On Sunday Morning

Just because the clock turned back an hour that doesn’t mean that you should lay in the bed all day. While I am a staunch supporter of doing nothing as much as you possibly can I have to implore you not to do that today. It will throw your body off more than it already is, and the result will leave you feeling sluggish when it’s time to get back to the grind on Monday.

Eat & Drink

The new time change will throw off your eating habits so you need to make sure you’re eating and staying hydrated throughout the day so you don’t feel even more rundown than you already do. So be sure to have a hearty healthy meal like oatmeal, fish, and veggies with a bottle of water or unsweetened tea.

Get Some Sun

Now that you’re up and ate a decent meal it’s time to grab some sun. You won’t have that much of it now that the time has changed so you have to take advantage of it before the cold weather sets in. You don’t have to travel far, either. Sit on your porch, visit a local coffee house, run some errands, or go for a walk around the neighborhood.

Go To  Bed Early Sunday Night

As previously mentioned, going to bed early is in your favor until you become used to the time change. If you want to stay up late Saturday into Sunday fine (although I wouldn’t), but don’t risk doing the same the night before the start of a new workweek. Don’t risk nodding off at your desk because your body feels like it was robbed of an hour.

Come To The Understanding That Your Body Will Adjust (Until We Spring Forward)

It is true, you will eventually get used to it. And by the time we’ve accepted our new cold and dark hours, it will be spring and time to push the clock forward.  Yeah, you’ll lose an hour but at least it will be warmer and sunnier out. That is the only consolation prize I can offer you right now.