Spring Forward 2024 happens on March 10th, and I am here to get you prepared for surviving after an hour of sleep is ripped out from under you.
Why daylight savings is still a thing is beyond me. Daylight savings was originally started to maximize use of natural light in a time when electricity wasn’t as common. This particularly benefited business owners as they were able to stay open longer and bring in more business.
Seeing that we have easier access to light via electricity, this seems obsolete… But hey, I’m not the one in charge.
So what’s the deal with spring forward 2024?
Fall back everyone gets excited because “yay! an extra hour of sleep!”. But the reality is, when you’re a parent that extra hour is non existent. However, spring forward is the one that gives us the biggest blow. These kid’s circadian rhythms are all out of wack, and we get woken up before the sun.
When I was a brand new mom with a little one that barely slept as it is, I scoured the internet for tips and ideas to minimize the effect of the time change on her sleep schedule. I love to sleep, and anything that could mess with my precious zzz’s was STRESSFUL.
Despite my searching, I really came up empty handed. I mean, there is plenty of advice out there from other parents, “sleep professionals”, etc. And believe me, I tried all the things. Nothing made any difference. Which gave me a pretty big revelation… I can not control this little person…
What Makes These Spring Forward Tips Different?
When I set out to write a blog post about surviving spring forward 2024, I wanted to do something different. I’m not going to spew tips about putting your child to bed an hour later (let’s face it, they are just going to wake up earlier, and be cranky.), or tell you to cover your house top to bottom in blackout curtains and black trash bags to evade all light after 6pm. (No hate on blackout curtains, I am a BIG fan!)
Instead this guide is for YOU. How you can survive that week, or really weeks, of adjusting to longer days, and less sleep.
Now don’t get me wrong here, there is absolutely nothing wrong with all the tips geared toward the kid’s side. If something works for you, do it! It’s just that what I have found over the years is that the only one I can really control is me. And when I focus on that, and not trying to control how my children react to something, I am so much less stressed.
Spring Forward 2024: A Quick Guide for Tired Parents
First and foremost, stop and remind yourself that you are human. You are not perfect and that is what makes you great! Think about how stressful it would be to grow up in a house with a literal perfect parent… yikes! The pressure!
Anyway, if you make a mistake, or snap because you’re tired… give yourself some grace! Make it right with your child, and move one. No need to beat yourself up over it!
Tip One:
Firstly, plan for some quiet time on the day of time change. If your kids nap, even better! However, if you have kids who don’t nap anymore, let them know you are going to have some quiet time today.
Quiet time may look different for everyone. This can be quiet play in their bedroom while you rest, watching a movie as a family snuggled up on the couch (watch through your eyelids if you have to! ha!), or simply spending time doing quiet, independent activities like reading, or drawing. Figure out what will work best for you and your kids, and do it!
Tip Two:
Secondly, it is not your job to constantly entertain your children! I said it before, and I will say it again. In fact, it is actually really great to let them be bored! You will be amazed at how their imagination grows when they are figuring out ways to keep themselves busy!
However, if you really want to have something planned for your kids, set out some coloring supplies the night before that they can have access to in the morning. This is simple, doesn’t require a bunch of extra work for you, and can help you catch a little extra sleep in the morning.
Tip Three:
Third, pull out one of those freezer meals you’ve been saving! This is the time to use it! And now, you don’t have to worry about dinner.
If you are anything like me, you are prone to forgetting to pull things out of the freezer to thaw… So as I said before, PULL THAT FREEZER MEAL OUT! (You’re welcome! ha!)
*Bonus if that freezer meal can be cooked in the crock pot!*
If you don’t happen to have a freezer meal readily available, rotisserie chicken is inexpensive and easy! (Plus you can usually get a few meals out of one chicken!) Or check out my recipe for naan pizza for a quick, easy meal that your kids can make!
Tip Four:
Fourth, if your child wakes up crazy early on the day of time change, pull them up into bed with you. Those morning snuggles are the best! And who knows, maybe a miracle will happen and they will fall back asleep with you. I mean… a mom can dream, right?
When my kids were babies, and they woke early this was my favorite way to sleep a little longer! Plus those sweet snuggles are just the best!
*A little bonus tip: I am not a morning person… as a result, sometimes when my kids are insisting that they are “starving” I let them go pick a snack to hold them over while I snooze for a few more minutes. Don’t come at me now, we have lots of fruit and other healthy snacks available to them!
Tip Five:
Finally, send your kids outside to play! Playing outside will tire your kiddos out faster than anything they can do inside. The sunshine and the fresh air will help them sleep better at night, and you get a little break inside while they play.
If you don’t have a place available where they can play on their own, go for a walk or take them to play at a park. Besides, the fresh air will help lift your mood too!
Spring Forward 2024 doesn’t have to be scary
Losing sleep as a parent is devastating. Maybe that’s a little dramatic, but man am I tired. ha! But spring forward 2024 doesn’t have to be scary. Stop stressing and just embrace the day! This too shall pass.
And finally, let me just remind you that there are no perfect parents. I know the world of social media sure makes it seem like there are, but it’s true. No one has it all together. Stop listening to all the voices around you telling you how to do everything and trust your gut. Then refuse to feel guilty about it!
You are doing a fantastic job!
