Tips for Daylight Savings Time
Each year, as we “fall back,” our clocks shift, but our bodies take a little longer to catch up.
You might notice your sleep feels off, your hunger cues change, or your energy dips in strange ways. That’s because our internal timekeeper—the circadian rhythm—runs on light, food, and routine. When that rhythm is disrupted, so is our sense of balance.
Ayurveda reminds us that we are part of nature’s clock.
The sun rises, the body awakens.
The sun sets, the body rests.
When we align our habits with that natural cycle, we feel grounded, energized, and calm.
Here are a few gentle ways to help your body ease into the time change this week:
1. Eat a Little Earlier
Your digestive fire has its own schedule—peaking around midday and quieting at night.
With the shift in daylight, try eating 15–20 minutes earlier than usual. This small adjustment helps your body stay in sync with the changing light and keeps digestion smooth. Even better? Choose warm, cooked meals that are easy to digest—think soups and seasonal vegetables.
2. Sleep on Time, Rise on Time
Ayurveda calls consistent sleep one of the three pillars for health. Aim to be in bed by 10 p.m. and rise around 6 a.m. This mirrors the body’s natural hormonal rhythm: cortisol rises with the sun, melatonin peaks with the dark. The first few mornings may feel groggy, but within a week your body will reset.
3. Warm, Nourish, and Spice
Now that we’ve entered fall, nature invites us to slow down and build warmth from within.
Favor hearty, well-spiced, and grounding foods—root vegetables, healthy fats like ghee, and grains like rice or quinoa. Add warming spices to your morning coffee or tea; cinnamon, cardamom, or a pinch of ginger. They awaken sluggish digestion, stabilize blood sugar, and add a comforting aroma to your mornings.
4. Greet the Sun
The first light of day is medicine. Step outside as soon as you wake—no phone, no scroll—just sunlight on your face. Natural light tells your body it’s time to be alert and helps recalibrate your circadian rhythm faster than any supplement can. Even five minutes of morning sun can lift mood, sharpen focus, and anchor your day.
5. Allow a Week to Adjust
It takes about a week for your body to fully harmonize with the new schedule. Be patient. Rest more, simplify your evenings, and avoid late-night screens that confuse the body’s sense of time. Think of this transition as nature’s gentle nudge to slow down, restore, and return to rhythm.
A Final Note
Falling back doesn’t have to mean falling out of balance. It’s an opportunity to return to the simplicity our grandmothers knew—eat when the sun is up, rest when it’s dark, and savor the quiet in between. When we honor the rhythm of the earth, our bodies remember how to feel at home within it.
