Sleep specialists say “falling back” has positive health impacts

SOUTHEASTERN, NC (WWAY)– It’s that time of year again. Time to set your clocks back one hour.  

Daylight saving time ends this weekend.   

The good part for many people is that extra hour of sleep Saturday night.     

But, that time change also can create challenges for the daily routine and our bodies.   

The sun will rise earlier, and set earlier.   

While many people aren’t fans of less daylight, sleep specialists say it’s not as bad as it might feel.   

“What it’s really showing is the opposite. It’s showing that we release our melatonin earlier, making us drowsier earlier in the evening like we are supposed to, so we are going to be more likely to actually get a normal amount of sleep which has a positive impact on mental health,” said Antoinette Izzo, PA-C with Novant Health Sleep Medicine. 

This weekend’s time change also serves as a good reminder to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.