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Original poster

Feel horrendous every time the clocks go back

117 replies

GCAcademic · 30/10/2023 18:43

Literally the day that the clocks go back, I feel awful. It seems to get worse every year and lasts for weeks. Exhausted by 4pm, freezing cold (even with the heating at 20 degrees), just want to crawl into bed before it’s even dinner time.

Anyone else? And does anyone have any tips for dealing with this?

OP posts:
boredfuckinsenseless · 30/10/2023 20:06

I'm better with light evenings. The darkness really depresses my energy levels. In the summer, I'm awake and ready to get going. During the winter, I struggle to get up and go. I hate going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark. then walking the dog in the dark. I love long Summer evenings.

BigMandsTattooPortfolio · 30/10/2023 20:10

We used to have double British Summer Time in WW2.

CallieQ · 30/10/2023 20:12

GCAcademic · 30/10/2023 18:43

Literally the day that the clocks go back, I feel awful. It seems to get worse every year and lasts for weeks. Exhausted by 4pm, freezing cold (even with the heating at 20 degrees), just want to crawl into bed before it’s even dinner time.

Anyone else? And does anyone have any tips for dealing with this?

Same here... been feeling off all day, asleep on the sofa 4-5pm and feeling really cold too.

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 30/10/2023 20:15

I always feel a bit sad when the clocks go back, but it certainly doesn't actually affect me, and never has.

tillytoodles1 · 30/10/2023 20:16

I hate it. I live on my own and feel so closed on when it's dark. I love the summer months.

Original poster
GCAcademic · 30/10/2023 20:17

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 30/10/2023 20:15

I always feel a bit sad when the clocks go back, but it certainly doesn't actually affect me, and never has.

Weirdly, it never used to affect me. It seems to have started in my 40s.

OP posts:
Nov07 · 30/10/2023 20:18

Yes I am the same. Absolutely exhausted and waiting to crawl into my bed.

MelAndTim · 30/10/2023 20:19

I’ve felt like this since Sunday. Hadn’t thought about it but peri so hideous insomnia. All I’ve done is work, nap, eat and not sleep at nighttime.

AutumnComfort · 30/10/2023 20:20

I LOVE the clocks going back now. I REALLY struggle with them going forward in the spring…

NancyJoan · 30/10/2023 20:21

I cried when I got home from work (in the sodding dark). I’m so, so tired already, and the stupid house is cold despite the heating being on. I will be fine by next week, but this is grim.

Chaitales · 30/10/2023 20:22

Same. It's really awful. I was driving somewhere around 6pm today and it was pitch black. I also hate the impact on my health, there is no way I can squeeze in an hours walk or walk to shops. Really impacts physical health as well as mental.

Twattergy · 30/10/2023 20:23

Use a SAD lamp for an hour in the morning? I got a great A4 sized one and just an hour of it on dark days takes the edge off. The hour change doesn't affect me at all but then I don't suffer with insomnia, from replies here it sounds like the insomniacs are suffering most, poor things.

Original poster
GCAcademic · 30/10/2023 20:24

I actually went to bed as soon as I got home (5pm). Just managed to get up now to reheat some dinner and turn up the heating.

OP posts:
NannyGythaOgg · 30/10/2023 20:26

ElaineMBenes · 30/10/2023 20:04

But clearly that works for some people.
Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you should be an arse to those that do!

I happen to love this time of year and hate spring but I'm not being condescending to those that think differently 🙄

Show quote history

Yes you are

That's exactly what your post is doing

HeddaGarbled · 30/10/2023 20:27

One hour time change and you have all those symptoms for weeks? That has to be psychological rather than physiological, surely.

A previous poster compared it to jet-lag which makes sense. But people don’t experience jet-lag involving times changes considerably greater than one hour for weeks.

Crikeyalmighty · 30/10/2023 20:27

@TheNoonBell imagine it combined with a flight back from california- Yep we had that double treat this weekend and had to go straight to a wedding 200 miles away- god knows how I stayed awake till 10pm

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 30/10/2023 20:27

Try being in the middle of a twelve hour night shift when the clocks go back. It immediately drains you of any energy you may have had. 😂

MelAndTim · 30/10/2023 20:27

Yes, I’ve been cold too, wfh today and kept boosting the heating. I’ve now got a week off with not much planned which is nice.

KohlaParasaurus · 30/10/2023 20:29

I'm normally OK with the clocks going back apart from grumbling about how early it gets dark, but it's flattened me this time.

ElaineMBenes · 30/10/2023 20:31

That's exactly what your post is doing

How? The poster I was replying to was referring to comments from another thread where people have said they like autumn and winter. For some reason they have taken the fact people like to be cosy etc very personally.

They were being snarky and snide.

Topofthemountain · 30/10/2023 20:33

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 30/10/2023 20:27

Try being in the middle of a twelve hour night shift when the clocks go back. It immediately drains you of any energy you may have had. 😂

I always feel sorry for those having to do an extra hour on shift.

bellac11 · 30/10/2023 20:33

TheNoonBell · 30/10/2023 19:06

Same, we call it seasonal jetlag.

Was up at 3am on Sunday, have been all over the place since.

I dont follow this, how would the clocks going forward at midnight on Saturday, mean that you are up at 3am on Sunday?

SocialistSally · 30/10/2023 20:33

Delatron · 30/10/2023 20:01

Dark evenings may help people
sleep but let’s be honest nobody is going to bed at 4pm? Surely if it gets dark from 8.30 that’s sufficient? I can’t see how this much darkness is welcome. I can’t even walk the dog in the evening now or go for a run. Boo.

I run and walk the dog in winter. Why does the darkness stop you? Get a head torch?

I hate both clock changes. Makes me feel awful. They are pointless. And yes research shows an increase in car accidents and heart attacks on clock change.

BurbleBumleBleep · 30/10/2023 20:33

To be honest as much as I hate the dark and cold the clocks going back at least tell us the misery has started.

How bloody long does this evening feel ! I can’t believe it’s only 8.30.I miss just 2 months ago. I’d have been gardening after work, eating dinner and probably thinking a nice chilled walk to the pub garden would be lovely.

LaurieStrode · 30/10/2023 20:35

OnlyFannys · 30/10/2023 19:46

I love it when they go back for the extra hour, I also have insomnia but mine stops me being able to get to sleep so often up until 2 or 3am so getting up an hour later is lovely. When they go forward in spring I want to murder everything for about 3 days 😁

Same here. The change in the fall is enjoyable but the change in spring is awful. I wish we could stay on GMT all year round and be done with it. I like early dawns in summer.

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