I was just reading an article entitled Changing the Clocks Wasn’t Good for Your Relationships. Well speaking personally I wouldn’t go that far, but I would say I found it very difficult.  Each morning it was a struggle getting out of bed and I never seemed tired at night when the clock said 10PM (my usual bedtime!)  All I can say is, I sympathize with those young families whose children weren’t tired at bedtime, and could not get up in the morning for school.  As well as those babies and toddlers who really had trouble with their morning and afternoon nap schedules.  I’m hoping many of you read my article offering sleep tips for the time change. http://www.myprgenie.com/view-publication/daylight-saving-time-to-spring-ahead-sleep-tips-by-babes-in-sleepland,  

Well to get to the main point of this, the article I referred to at the beginning discusses how a lack of sleep and sleep deprivation has negative consequences to relationships, (and I would add to families and the work place.)  In particular, we act more selfishly, we become more volatile and impulsive, and we have less control over our emotions.  At home, we are more likely to argue with our loved ones!

In research published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, participants were shown more likely to have selfish tendencies and unable to see their partner’s perspective, when they slept poorly.  Serena Chen, a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-researcher, claimed that “if you sleep poorly you are prone to be self-centered;” your focus is “me,me,me.”

A variety of studies that are mentioned in this article show many negative side effects to the time change,  As already mentioned:

• impulsivity
• volatility
• less-control (also called ego-depletion)
• selfish tendencies

          And in addition:

• less moral awareness
• more time spent aimlessly surfing the internet
• increase in workplace injuries
• increase in heart attacks

So what is the take away?  We all need sleep and as a Pediatric Sleep Consultant, I know we all need consolidated and restorative sleep.  If a one- hour time change can wreak so much havoc, just imagine how much more many sleepless nights, can wreak.

This is what I see in my practice: 

Overtired and overstressed parents, and the main cause of this is that their children are not sleeping; not because they’re changing their clocks twice a year. 

If you feel you are one of those parents, and you know it’s because your children are not sleeping, let me help you. I can get your kids sleeping again and allowing all of you to get the sleep you desire and more importantly, need!

Let me know what you think.  Was this article helpful?

Angela Walsh is a Family Sleep Institute, Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and the founder of Babes in Sleepland. She helps sleep deprived babies, children and families, get back on track and get the sleep they need and desire. To learn more about Angela and how she can help you, visit her website: babesinsleepland.com Also get sleep tips, the latest research on baby and child products, and be part of her weekly Q and A at her Facebook page: Babes in Sleepland.