November 2nd marks the end of Daylight Savings Time, also known as that week when it's suddenly dark before we leave the office and it freaks everyone out. But there's an upside: The end of DST means we "gain" an hour of sleep, which is pretty awesome. The other 364 nights of the year, we find it really, really hard to get enough shut-eye, which, according to the sleep experts we tapped, has some real consequences. Below, see what learned from the doctors we spoke to, which was enough to make us rethink our priorities. After all, beauty, health, and sanity are at stake, apparently.
What the experts say:
"Establish a routine. Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time, at least during your weekdays. If you are a light sleeper, plan a daytime nap. If you have a clock in the bedroom that is lit, turn it away from you at night, as even the smallest amount of light can stimulate you out of restful sleep. For the skin, topical antioxidants are invaluable. Oxidative stress makes apples brown and iron rust, so you can imagine how it dulls the skin. A nutritious diet brings antioxidants from the inside, while antioxidant creams rejuvenate skin from the outside." –Robert Anolik, MD, Dermatologist, Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York
"Keep a regular schedule, even on weekends. If you have trouble falling asleep, get out of bed and try again later. Don't "try to sleep"—that is a recipe for tossing and turning. Don't make important decisions in the middle of the night or after a night of poor sleep. A light snack before bed can help you get to sleep and stay asleep." –Michael Grandner, PhD, Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania
"Go to bed at the same time and wake at the same time every day, stop exercising 4 hours prior to bedtime, and get 15 minutes of sunlight per day." –Michael Breus, PhD, "The Sleep Doctor"
"Think sleep when you think wellness. Prevent future health problems by getting good sleep now. Getting adequate sleep—whether allowing enough time in bed for sufficient sleep or making sure that sleep disorders are effectively treated—is as important as diet and exercise in promoting health."—David Neubauer, MD, Psychiatrist, Johns Hopkins University