Travel Tips For Daylight Savings: Enhance Slow Travel

Q: How does daylight saving time affect travel?

During spring-forward and fall-back transitions, trains, buses, airlines, and airports adjust departure times to local standard time, but double-checking your bookings is always a good idea.

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Daylight saving time (DST) can throw off your travel plans, whether you’re losing an hour in the spring or gaining one in the fall. The disruption to your internal clock affects sleep, energy levels, and your ability to enjoy your surroundings thoroughly. Experts from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine now recommend sticking to standard time year-round, as it better aligns with our natural rhythms and the environment.

According to research, frequent time changes can increase stress, cause sleep issues, and affect health. But there’s a way to embrace and use these challenges to enhance your travels.

In this post, I’ll share travel tips for daylight savings that help you adjust to the time change and embrace a slower, more intentional pace of travel.

Whether you’re managing shorter days in the fall or longer ones in the spring, these tips will help you stay connected with nature and experience your destination more mindfully.

Key Takeaways

Travel Tips for Daylight Savings

1. Adjust Your Travel Routine with Nature

Whether springing forward or falling back, the key to making the most of DST while travelling is to align your body’s rhythm with nature.

You don’t need to force yourself to wake up with the alarm clock when you’re on holiday—use your time to enjoy the gradual rise of the sun or the quiet of an early sunset. Even when travelling across time zones, letting your body adjust at its own pace can make the experience more enjoyable.

2. Take Breaks During Your Travels

Especially during the spring forward, when losing an hour might make you feel like you need to rush, make sure to schedule breaks. Slow travel is about pacing yourself, whether you’re on a road trip, in your own town or exploring a new city.

Sit in a local park, visit a café with a view of nature, or stop for a picnic. Embracing a slower travel pace allows you to soak in more of your surroundings and appreciate the natural beauty of your destination.

So, schedule less of your time to allow for breaks and spontaneity to be able to enjoy things as they come up.

3. Eat and Sleep with the Local Rhythm

When you’re getting used to daylight saving time, especially when travelling internationally, it can be helpful to sync your eating and sleeping habits with the local schedule.

In some places, people might have dinner later or take longer lunch breaks to adapt to the changing daylight hours.

Similarly, adjusting your meal times and sleep schedule to the local rhythm allows your body to adapt to time zone changes and daylight shifts quickly.

The Controversy: Is It Time to End Daylight Saving?

While daylight saving time was introduced to save energy—at least, that’s one popular explanation—recent studies show it often disrupts our sleep cycles, leading to increased stress and health problems.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine strongly recommends sticking to standard time year-round, as it better aligns with the body’s natural circadian rhythms.

Research published in Current Biology highlights how daylight saving time, especially the “spring forward” transition, can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and sleep disorders. Losing just one hour of sleep can throw off our body’s internal clock, which depends on consistency and the natural light-dark cycle.

Many people find it difficult to adjust after the time change, especially in the mornings, when our bodies are most sensitive to light. Creating a sense of calm and intention in the morning can help ease the transition and restore balance after disrupted sleep patterns.

Recommended Read: Mindful Mornings: Starting Your Travel Day Right

The Impact of Daylight Saving on Travel and Nature

Whether you’re springing forward in March or falling back in November, the time changes affect our schedules and how we interact with nature. This impact is felt even more deeply in slow travel, as it’s all about moving at a natural, mindful pace.

Planning Activities with the Seasons in Mind

As we embrace daylight saving time, we must be mindful of how the natural environment shifts with the seasons.

During the spring forward, the days grow longer, which means more daylight to explore nature, but it can also be easy to overextend yourself.

Rather than filling every hour with activities, consider planning just one or two immersive experiences.

For example, a quiet sunrise hike or an evening spent watching wildlife can help you feel more connected to the rhythms of nature.

Connecting with Nature in the Dark

The fall back in November brings earlier sunsets, but you can still retreat indoors as soon as it gets dark. Twilight is a magical time to experience nature differently.

The low light and cooler temperatures bring out nocturnal animals and create a sense of calm, perfect for reflection.

Why not make the most of this peaceful, tranquil time by trying out some stargazing, taking leisurely forest walks, or simply unwinding by a campfire? Let the beauty of nature help you relax and take things slow.

Embrace Slow Travel with a “Digital Detox

When the time changes, why take a break from your devices and enjoy a bit of digital detox? Instead of constantly checking your phone, take the opportunity to disconnect and immerse yourself in the present moment.

Spend time observing the natural world around you without the distraction of screens. Trust your body’s rhythm and enjoy the freedom from our usual artificial schedules.

Recommended Read: The Benefits of Slow Travel: Why Less is More

FAQ: Navigating Daylight Saving Time While Travelling

How does daylight saving time affect travel?

During spring-forward and fall-back transitions, trains, buses, airlines, and airports adjust departure times to local standard time, but double-checking your bookings is always a good idea.

How do airports handle daylight saving time?

Airports and airlines usually update their schedules automatically to match the new time. Flights departing during the night of the time change, mainly between 1-2 am, will be adjusted to reflect the new time, whether springing forward or falling back. Check your flight details, especially if you’re travelling when the clocks change.

Can you get jet lag from a one-hour time difference?

Yes, some people experience minor jet lag from even a one-hour shift, particularly after spring forward, where you lose an hour of sleep. Your body may feel out of sync for a couple of days. Adjust your sleep schedule gradually in the days leading up to the time change to minimize any effects.

How long does it take to adjust to daylight saving time?

It typically takes most people about 2-3 days to fully adjust to daylight saving time, whether we are springing forward or falling back. Gradually shifting your routine, such as waking up a few minutes earlier before the spring forward, can help make the transition smoother.

Final Thoughts: Time Is on Your Side

Daylight saving time doesn’t have to disrupt your travel plans. Whether you’re dealing with the spring forward in March or the fall back in November, you can use these time changes to enhance your travel experience.

By aligning your schedule with nature’s rhythms, adjusting your sleep routine, and embracing the slower pace, you’ll be able to connect more deeply with your destination and enjoy a genuinely mindful travel experience.

Sources:

American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Circadian Rhythm and Daylight Saving Time
Harvard Health, The Adverse Health Effects of Daylight Saving Time

Travel Tips for Daylight Savings: How the Time Change Can Enhance Slow Travel