Halloween and the fall time change is what I llike to call the “double whammy” and it’s more impactful than you might think. Maybe you’re still feeling a bit off right now and here’s the thing, you’re not alone and it’s not just in your head. Halloween and this shift in time can really mess with our health but don’t worry, I’ll be sharing unique, practical tips to help you bounce back and feel your best.

Let’s start with a question: Did you know Halloween and the time change could be throwing off your health more than you realize? If you’ve been feeling extra tired or foggy this week, hit the thumbs-up! Let’s see how many of us are in the same boat. So, why do Halloween and the time change hit us so hard? Halloween marks the start of darker, colder days, and then boom, the clocks change, taking away that evening light. It’s a one-two punch, impacting our energy, mood, and sleep.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting: scientists actually have a name for the foggy feeling many of us experience right after Halloween and the time shift, it’s called “social jet lag” which is very much like real jet lag, but instead of flying across time zones, we’re just trying to adjust to the new daylight schedule.

Here’s a fun way to combat it: Start each day with a quick mental warm-up, maybe taking a quick moment to think of three things you’re grateful for or you can enjoy a simple puzzle. These mental “primers” can get your brain firing, helping you to shake off that social jet lag. If you try it tomorrow, drop a comment here and tell me how it worked for you! 

Next, let’s talk about our kids. Between Halloween candy and staying up late, kids’ routines can really take a hit.  If you’ve had little ones bouncing off the walls since Halloween, give me a heart emoji below! That sugar, extra excitement and disrupted sleep combined with the time change makes it tough for kids to settle back down, and that’s not easy on us parents either! 

To help slow that down, try some calming evening activities like reading together or playing soft music and despite all of the changes, it’s important to stick to regular mealtimes as much as possible. These small steps make a big difference in helping kids – and us –  to find that steady rhythm again.

Let’s talk about light as it’s one of the most powerful tools we have even though we don’t think about it enough!  As daylight hours drop, we lose some of the sunlight that naturally boosts our mood and energy but you can fight this by getting as much natural sunlight as possible, especially in the morning. Even just 10-15 minutes can reset your body clock and elevate your mood.

Now, if the mornings happen to be cloudy, here’s a pro tip for you: try one of those blue-enriched lightboxes. It mimics sunlight which in turn wakes us up and signals to our brain, “It’s time to get moving!” If you’ve used or are using a lightbox, tell me in the comments what you think of it! 

Room temperature is another small change with a big impact. Did you know that our bodies cool down naturally at night to help us sleep? Yet with colder nights, many of us are cranking up the heat, which can mess with our sleep quality. Try keeping your bedroom around 65 degrees for the best rest.

Here’s a fun fact: Halloween and the time shift can also affect our gut! Okay well maybe that’s not so fun but yep, the sugar overload and sudden schedule change can throw off our gut microbiome which in turn ends up impacting our digestion and even our mood.

Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt or kimchi can help restore balance. If that’s not your thing you can always take a good probiotic which I recommend at the best of times anyways, one that guarantees live delivery or else you could be spending good money on dead bugs, and we already know that the most expensive supplements are the ones that don’t work.

Another thing I’m big on is “micro-dosing” movement throughout the day, especially when my energy dips. These quick movement breaks like stretching or a short walk for a fast 5 minutes is perfect for keeping your energy steady and it’s easier than you think! I love using my rebounder which is much like the ones shown below, granny handle and all, it’s so easy to use whether I’m just walking, jogging lightly or flat out bouncing it out to good tunes!

Let’s talk about winding down in the evening. For some people diffusing scents like lavender or chamomile can help increase your melatonin, a sleep hormone that tells our body it’s time to sleep. Just one drop before bed helps the brain associate this scent with rest, making it easier to drift off.

Although we make our own melatonin sometimes we need help resetting our body clocks, and by adding just a small dose of melatonin, around 0.5 to 2 mg about 30 minutes before bed for a few days is often enough to do the trick. If you have immunity challenges you might want to look at taking more like I do as it can also help with our immune system,  this is a whole other subject that I’ll cover in a different blog.

Another one I love is magnesium, especially if it’s taken in the evening as it supports muscle relaxation and a steady nervous system for better sleep quality. Another key benefit of magnesium is its role in regulating energy production by helping the body manage the daytime fatigue that often follows the time change, keeping you more alert and resilient as you adjust.

To wrap up, here’s a challenge for everyone: Tonight, try diffusing a calming scent or lowering your bedroom temperature, then come back here tomorrow and let me know how it worked out for you! Hopefully, these tips will help you if you’re still feeling off, not just to recover but to be able to thrive during this double whammy of Halloween and the time change.

If you found these tips helpful, share this blog so others can enjoy a smoother transition too, I’d really appreciate that! If you love learning how to be your own best advocate, get into my free online wellness center where you can learn so much more than what I share on these shows, no strings attached, enjoy: https://vitality.danniecadewellness.com/home

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