How to manage the changeover to winter time?

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The switch to winter time has an impact on our biological rhythms of many people, especially children: difficulty falling asleep, appetite and mood disorders… How can we prepare for it? How can we manage it? All the advice you need to avoid seasonal depression…

Time change

A change that is not without consequences for our bodies, our pace of life and our morale. Here are a few easy-to-follow recommendations to help you tackle the change calmly.

A battered biological clock

Like every year, our clocks will soon go back an hour. And while for some this means an extra hour’s sleep, for others it means the sun will set after the children’s afternoon tea. In addition to shorter days, the switch to winter time also means difficulty falling asleep, hormonal disturbances, appetite and mood disorders. In short, it’s an unpleasant schedule, but one that’s not impossible to overcome.

It’s all in the preparation

To welcome the arrival of winter time, you need to prepare yourself in the same way as an athlete before a race: gradually, to avoid any unpleasant surprises on the big day. The easiest way to do this is to shift your wake-up and bedtimes by 15 minutes, three days before the fateful date. And since it’s now colder, it’s best to do away with the late, heavy aperitifs of summer and eat early and light. If you’re having trouble adjusting to this new rhythm, you can take magnesium or homeopathy to manage sleep disorders.

Putting children first

Here again, the order of the day is to anticipate gently. From the age of six months, a child’s schedule is highly sequenced. An hour’s time difference represents a major upheaval in this rhythm. Four days before the changeover, we recommend gradually shifting bottle-feeding time (or feeding time for older children) by 15 minutes, as well as getting up and going to bed. In the morning, keep your house bright enough to reproduce the sunrise. And to help your child fall asleep, a relaxing bath and homeopathy can help.

On D-Day, we get busy

On the big day, it’s best to exert yourself and tire yourself out during the day; with a bit of luck, the sun will be out. To avoid any excitement, it’s best to have a quiet evening. Before brushing your teeth, you can also change the time on your watch and alarm clock to prepare yourself psychologically.

Vitamins and naps

The prospect of the coming winter months with their gloomy weather and short days can trigger so-called seasonal depression. To counteract this gloomy mood, take advantage of the sun as soon as it appears, or try light therapy, for example. Your doctor may also prescribe vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin. Vitamin C in the morning can also boost your immune system. Alternatively, your pharmacist can suggest a homeopathic treatment to help maintain optimal defense against winter’s infectious diseases. And remember, just because winter is on its way doesn’t mean you should neglect to stay hydrated.