LIFE

Daylight savings is officially over, and now it gets dark at 5:00 PM (or earlier) every day. To optimize the daylight that we *do* have, let's talk about ways we can get through it together! Read on for our top tips on how to deal with shorter days during this new szn.

Soak up as much sunlight as you can.

This means waking up early enough to go on a nature walk or even doing your workout routine outside. This will help you get your Vitamin D in before taking on your busy schedule. So, instead of driving to your fave library, take a walk there! Finding time to be outside will *so* help you this winter.

Minimize the amount of time you spend on your phone.

We know your phone is your bestie, but let's set some app limits to be sure that you're not spending 8 hours a day on Instagram. You can even start by setting a downtime on your phone so you'll be notified when you need to start to unwinding before bed. This will push you to put down your phone and get as much as possible off of your to-do list before nightfall. 

Stick to a good sleep schedule.

One of the *biggest* perks of the time change is that extra hour of sleep—but you def won't want to completely change your routine by staying up super late at night and sleeping in every morning. Disruptions to your sleep schedule can affect your mood, drain your energy, cause problems with concentration and even impact your overall health. That's why it's extra important to stay on track with a good sleep schedule! Pro tip: Try to go to bed 15 to 20 minutes earlier than you normally would. Soon, you'll totally adjust to your new-and-improved sleep cycle.

Create a relaxing night routine.

Ofc, you can't have the right sleep schedule without the perf night routine! Winding down early is the key to a good night's sleep. It can be *so* tough to avoid going down social media rabbit holes, binge-watching your fave Netflix show or even finishing up a last-minute homework assignment before bed. Still, we suggest you steer clear of screens and create a chill night routine for yourself instead. So light your fave winter-scented candle and curl up with your latest read, do some skincare, meditate, write in your journal—the possibilities are endless.

In need of some more lifestyle tips? Check out these related posts:
🪴 How to deal with the Sunday scaries
🪴 7 all-natural ways to sleep better
🪴 How to refresh after a sleepover

How are you dealing with the shorter days? Tell us on Twitter @girlslifemag!

Slider Image: @krystynaoczkowska  | All GIFs via GIPHY

by Samara Smukler and Ti'Ja Taylor | 12/16/2022