Adjusting to daylight savings time

March 9, 10:52 AMDetroit Running ExaminerClaire Charlton

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Wasn't it hard to get out of bed this morning?  And why did time feel like it was moving at breakneck speed on Sunday?  Ah yes, good old daylight savings time.

Don't get me wrong, DST is a good friend.  It allows us more hours of daylight in the evening during the summer -- when we need it most and can get the best enjoyment out of our beautiful summer weather.  But adjusting to the time change during the first few days (or week) can be a tough task indeed.

This morning, as I made my way to my local pool at 5:30, I saw a tenacious runner plodding away in the dark.  When I got to the pool, most lanes had three or four swimmers already well into their workouts.  And then I asked myself "Can exercise possibly help with the time adjustment?"

Of course it can!

Here's a reassuring article from ABC News about how lifestyle factors can help us make a smooth adjustment to springing forward.  It turns out the body's self-made serotonin, a "critical compound that causes blood vessels to constrict, stimulates smooth muscles, and plays a role in the transmission of impulses between nerve cells," can help ease us into feeling ourselves again when the time changes.  (Of course, this article is from 2006, when we sprang forward in LATE March, a much more friendly time -- we're already into spring by then!)

The article quotes biologist David Glass of Kent State University.  He says:

"If you were to go out and run, or even take a brisk walk, we know that would stimulate serotonin release in the brain," Glass says. "That has a number of different effects, including for a lot of folks, alleviating depression."

And guess what?  That wonderful serotonin also resets your body clock, so exercise is an important part of the adjustment.

The great news, Detroit Runners, is that you should have an easier time adjusting than your sedentary counterparts, just by doing what you love to do, running.

Join me next Monday when we'll discover another interesting topic about the health of running.  Have a topic you'd like to see?  Shout out below.  Or contact me at clairecharlton@gmail.com.