By Iris Moore
BU News Service 

If it isn’t hard enough already, getting up early will only get harder on Sunday when clocks are set forward for daylight saving time.

Officially starting at 2 a.m. local time, the more unpopular time change will reset most American’s computer and smartphone clocks. However, for some of us, our internal clocks will not be as easy to reset.

According to sleep expert, Dr. Vivek Jain, productivity, concentration, and stress are among a few health-related issues that may be affected by the lost hour.

Jain stresses the importance of adjusting to the time change rather than ignoring it. Therefore, he offers a number of tips that may help soften the blow of DST.

First, start preparing now by going to bed 30 minutes earlier Saturday and Sunday night. Leave your blinds pulled up, so you will see the outdoor sunlight in the morning, which can provide you with some extra energy.

Break the habit of using electronics or eating in bed. Train your body to recognize your bedroom as a place for sleep not work.

Make sure you are done working out a few hours before going to bed. Your body should be in a state of winding down, not working out, in order to better prepare you for sleep.

Take a hot shower before getting into bed. The process supposedly mimics your day and night routine, which may help with the adjustment.

But, when all else fails, be optimistic and look at the bright side– spring is coming, and we will begin to see some extra evening light.