We all knew this day was coming. Halloween has passed, and the first Sunday in November is fast approaching, marking the end of Daylight Saving Time. This Sunday at 2 a.m., we'll all be turning our clocks back an hour, which will enable us to wake up with the pleasant knowledge that we've gained an extra hour for the day, swiftly followed by the melancholy that comes with increasingly diminished sunlight.
Upon searching for "Fall Back" info, the University of Oklahoma Police Department's extensive laundry list of safety precautions popped up. The OUPD suggests using the biannual time change as a reminder to
- Change your smoke detector batteries;
- Prepare/Replenish your emergency preparedness kit;
- Check for hazardous waste around the house; and,
- Get rid of expired medication. You can actually still use most drugs after they expire, except nitroglycerin, insulin, and liquid antibiotics. (Do your research first, of course, but popping a two-year-old Tylenol will do you no harm.)
Naturally, sleep experts recommend going to bed at your previously scheduled time in spite of the time change, in order to keep from starting your week sleep-deprived. They also suggest using the time change to evaluate and reset your sleeping habits.
Once you've done all that work that you never knew came with Daylight Saving Time, pull out those sleeping caps and flannel sheets, and get hibernating, Folks! You deserve it.
