Fall Back: How Daylight Savings Time Affects Your Health

Turn back your clocks on Nov. 2.

Daylight Savings Time Is in Full Effect - For many of us this weekend, Nov. 2 at 2A/1C means we must turn back our clocks. Most of us only know that this means we get an extra hour of sleep, but this change can have some effects on our everyday health and wellness. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Daylight Savings Time Is in Full Effect - For many of us this weekend, Nov. 2 at 2A/1C means we must turn back our clocks. Most of us only know that this means we get an extra hour of sleep, but this change can have some effects on our everyday health and wellness. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Shorter Days Can Make You Sleepier - Yeah, we may “gain” an hour of sleep, but past studies suggest that by turning the clocks back, we experience darker mornings and nights that can actually make us sleepier during the day. Get that coffee ready!(Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

Choosing the Right Shade - Have you been feeling a little blue lately? Perhaps your home décor is to blame! Certain hues can trigger emotional responses depending on the dullness or brightness of the room color. It can contribute to your creativity, alter your mood or affect your well-being. But before you start working on that room makeover, let’s take a deeper look at which colors can possibly bring out the best or worst in your mood. By Dontaira Terrell (Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

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Can Trigger Headaches - Yes, the weather changing can trigger headaches in some people, but so can the time change. It can mess with our circadian rhythms, the physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle. When we turn back or forward the clocks, these rhythms can be out of whack. (Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

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Can Screw Up Baby’s Naptime - You may be able to adjust to the time change, but your baby’s ability to adapt, especially when it comes to their naptime, may be a whole different story. (Photo: BFG Images/Getty Images)

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'Man up.' - This implies that he is acting like less than a man. He will 100 percent of the time revert to a boy if you say this. (Photo: Nicholas Monu/Getty Images)

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Kicks off Seasonal Depression - The winter and its dreary dark weather can set off seasonal depression (SAD) and other issues such as the winter blues and feeling sluggish and tired.(Photo: Nicholas Monu/Getty Images)

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Flicks of the Week: Black Film's Next Year - We're bringing in the new year with a few classic Black films. Get the champagne and watch!(Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Makes Kids (And You) Less Active - A recent study found that during the summer, kids are 15-20 percent more active than they were when the clocks are set back, because they can’t stay out as late to play in the winter. Try finding activities to do inside to make up for that loss in exercise. (Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)

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It Can Impact Diabetics - Researchers from Michigan State University found that having to turn back the clocks can impact diabetics who are reliant on insulin pumps that are tied to a timer. The study found that diabetics may forget to adjust the clock on their pumps, which can result in errors that can be harmful.(Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

It Can Cause More Accidents - Turning the clock back means having darker mornings and nights, which can increase your risk of having a car accident. Keep those eyes on the road!(Photo: Christian Albert/ Corbis)

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It Can Cause More Accidents - Turning the clock back means having darker mornings and nights, which can increase your risk of having a car accident. Keep those eyes on the road!(Photo: Christian Albert/ Corbis)

So What Can You Do? - While Daylight Savings Time can be a bummer, for most of us it’s not going anywhere. So the key is to cope: Stay connected to friends, bundle up and try to get in some daytime walks to soak up some sun. Alos, try to stay physically active at the gym or at home if you can.(Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Blend Images/Corbis)

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So What Can You Do? - While Daylight Savings Time can be a bummer, for most of us it’s not going anywhere. So the key is to cope: Stay connected to friends, bundle up and try to get in some daytime walks to soak up some sun. Alos, try to stay physically active at the gym or at home if you can.(Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Blend Images/Corbis)