If you’re feeling exhausted at the moment, you’ll be happy to hear that you’ll be treated to an extra hour in bed later this month.
Clock changes can leave you feeling out of sorts - but thankfully, there are several measures you can take to prevent this.
Here’s everything you need to know about the clock change, and our tips for coping with it.
So when do the clocks go back?
This year the clocks change on Sunday, October 27 2019 at 2am.
This means that you’ll need to put your clock back an hour.
How to remember which way the clocks go
While it happens reliably every year, it seems we still have trouble remembering which way the clocks go.
Thankfully, there’s an easy phrase you can remember to make sure you’re on top of the clock changes.
This is ‘spring forward, fall back’ - meaning the clocks go forwards in the spring, and back in the fall (autumn).
Do you need to change the clock on your phone?
Most smartphones will automatically change the clock at 02:00 - so there’s no need to factor the time change into your alarm.
What’s the reason for the clock change?
Benjamin Franklin, the famous US inventor came up with the concept of changing the clocks in Paris in 1784.
Franklin suggested that people could save money on candles if they got up when it was lighter outside.
In 1907, this same idea was brought to the UK by a builder called William Willett.
Willett published a leaflet called The Waste of Daylight, encouraging people to wake up earlier.
But much to Willett’s dismay, the government took some convincing to make the clock change official.
It wasn’t until 1916 - a year after Willett died - that the clock change was implemented in the UK.
How to cope with the clock change
While the clocks only change by an hour, this can leave you feeling groggy and out of sorts.
There are several ways to combat this change:
- Go to bed an hour later to help your body adjust
- Take a long shower or bath to relax
- Avoid caffeine in the afternoon
