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For most of my adult life, I’ve suffered with sleeping problems. It all started when I was a freshman in college and majorly homesick. I tried everything, from sleeping masks, earplugs, reading, journaling, white noise machines, and counting sheep to listening to calming music, creating to-do lists and turning off all electronics before bed, nixing caffeine and naps, setting schedules, and taking melatonin and vitamin D. But nothing worked.
It was rough. Every aspect of life was affected by my lack of sleep, and I was constantly exhausted, sick, upset and moody. It’s actually pretty surprising I made friends that year. (Thanks, guys.)
Thankfully, my condition is a lot better today. And while I still experience trouble while I’m traveling or have a lot on my mind, there’s been a huge improvement. Huzzah! It only took 10+ years.
Daylight Saving Time, however, continues to wreak havoc on my life, sleep-wise. And apparently, I’m not alone. More than half of all U.S. adults say their sleep is affected by the time change. Of those who suffer from occasional sleeplessness, more than 60 percent cite DST affecting their sleep, whether they’re gaining or losing an hour. Personally, I find that it takes me about a week to adjust… which is a long time!
This past November, though, I took ZzzQuil—a non-habit-forming sleep-aid—for a few days to help, and it made the transition so much easier. Taking it certainly didn’t knock me out, but I fell asleep far more quickly than I normally do, woke up feeling refreshed, and got myself back into a healthy sleeping schedule. And when I stopped it, I didn’t experience any side effects. So you’d better believe that I’ll be taking it this coming Sunday when we “spring forward.” :) Here’s a coupon if you want to try it for yourself!
Today, I’m partnering with ZzzQuil for a fun ad campaign that aims to answer where that lost hour of sleep is going. Want to join me? It’s simple! Leave a comment on ZzzQuil’s Twitter or Facebook pages with #LostHour, and explain where you think that hour is going. Tag @ZzzQuil in your response for the chance to win a fun surprise, too!
Have you ever tried ZzzQuil before? What do you do to help your body and mind transition during the time change?
