When the clocks shift an hour back or forward, many students find themselves losing sleep, feeling groggy, and struggling to stay focused in class.
Every fall and spring, the time change throws people’s routines off balance.
The time change is just an hour, but students report feeling tired, irritable, and less productive in the days following the change.
Science backs this up. Our bodies run on internal clocks called circadian rhythms, and suddenly changing the time disrupts that rhythm. Some students say it feels like mild jet lag.
“It takes me almost a week to feel normal again,” Madelyn Legge, junior, said.
Teachers also notice the difference.
“The first few days after the time change, everyone looks half-asleep,” Mrs. Brandy Durham, art teacher, said. “Participation drops, and energy is low.”
Experts suggest sticking to a consistent bedtime, limiting screen time before sleep, and getting morning sunlight to help your body adjust faster.
