Don’t just stay up late to “enjoy” the extra hour. Seriously, go to bed at your normal time and let the hour be a gift to your sleep cycle. Your body will thank you when Monday morning rolls around. One study found that car accidents drop by several percentage points in the week after the fall-back, simply because we’re better rested.
Change your smoke alarm batteries while you’re at it. Fire services love this reminder, and it’s a solid excuse to feel organised. Also, set a reminder on your phone to manually adjust any analog clocks in your car or on your watch—future you will be grateful.
Use the darker evenings as an excuse for hygge. Light a candle, put on a woolly jumper, and embrace the British tradition of complaining about the weather while cozying up with a tea. It’s practically a national sport.
The “Dark Side” (Literally)
For the first week, your body will produce more melatonin because of reduced sunlight. This is why you might feel surprisingly drowsy at 3 PM. Combat this by getting outside for at least 15 minutes during your lunch break. Natural light tells your brain it’s still daytime, even if the sky looks like grey soup.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) spikes after the clocks change. If you feel a real slump, consider a daylight lamp. They’re not magic, but they trick your brain into thinking you’re sitting on a sunny patio in Tuscany. Worth a shot.
And for the love of all things good, don’t schedule early meetings the following week. Your colleagues will be groggy, and you’ll just be the person who ruins the collective enjoyment of the extra hour. Nobody wants that on their conscience.
When Do the Clocks Go Back in 2026? Here’s When British Summer Time
