It’s nice to think spring is just right around the corner, and one of the first signs is later sunset times!

Most of us look forward to adding an extra hour of light to the end of the day but dread losing the hour of sleep when pushing our clocks up for spring forward.

Daylight saving time officially kicks off at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 14. You’ll need to change your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.

However, changing our clocks yet again is easier said than done.

Here are five tips to prep yourself for the upcoming time change.

You don’t have to wait for Sunday morning to adjust your inner clock to the time change. Slowly build yourself and your family up to the new schedule 15 minutes earlier each day.

Set the bedtime earlier each night so it won’t be an abrupt difference by Sunday. This is especially important for kids.

You can also change your clock Friday night instead of Saturday night. Allowing two days, rather than a single day, can help ease your inner clock to the new time before Monday morning.

Exercise and being active are great for your health and typically lead to a good night's sleep! Enjoy a walk outside or move around during daylight hours since this should tire your body out naturally.

Avoid exercise too close to your bedtime. You need to ‘cool down’ before starting to sleep. 

There are screens everywhere – TV, phones, computers – but they can stimulate your brain and make it harder to fall asleep. Instead, try switching out the screens with a book, or try journaling, right before bed. This helps your mind unwind and usually get better sleep.

Reducing your caffeine intake and drinking more water can do wonders for your tired body! Avoid alcohol and caffeine for 4 to 6 hours before bedtime.

It’s best to wake up at the same time every morning. And yes, even on the weekends! This will make it easier to transition to the new time... especially when the alarm goes off the first Monday morning after the time change!