Spring ahead! Four fun tips to make the most of the time change

Spring ahead! It's time to live life to the the fullest with more sun on your face!

Daylight Savings Time starts on March 13, and we will spring the clocks ahead by an hour. Spring starts officially March 20 but the hour will make it feel like spring is already here, and the sunlight fills our afternoons and evenings. Yes, you will lose an hour of sleep on Sunday morning, but you will hopefully feel more energized as the days will go by and you will have daylight for longer. For some people this can bring a big difference in their mood and energy level, some might not even notice it. Which one are you? 

I come from Finland and it is such a Northern country that Daylight Savings is a huge deal there. There are many people around the world, and even in the US who think we don't even need it, but for Finns and others living in the North it makes a huge difference. During winter time it is typical that the sun rises around 9AM and sets around 3:30PM - and you will literally live through most of your winter in dark, unless you work outdoors. During summer time the sun sets around midnight and comes up again at 3:30AM - and you better get used to sleeping in light, or get light blocking blinders! It's dark during summer nights maybe for two hours or so, and I have seen summertime fireworks in Finland only once in my lifetime, and I am still in total excitement when I can watch fireworks wearing shorts instead of freezing in snow. 

Here are my four tips how to make the most of the Daylight Savings and how to live life to the fullest and welcome spring 2011!

1. Get kids used to the time change and start putting them to bed 30-60 minutes earlier every night already now. See - even if the time change if forward, this is a mom's trick to steal extra "me time". Or better yet - this can be a great time to get some extra "mommy & daddy time" and you can go to bed sooner too each night. You know, just to get used to the time change. If you choose to spend this time to get frisky with your husband, even more good news for you: Dr. Oz says that if you have sex more than twice a week, you will most likely live three years longer. 

2. This is a great excuse to redecorate the house. Especially if you want kids to keep going to bed on their normal time after the time change, you might want to consider blinders in their bedrooms. The sunlight and the time change will most likely affect kids more than you. And of course when you are shopping for new curtains for kids' rooms, you might as well look for some fun things for the rest of the house too. Spring is a great time to refresh your home, and when you get the extra sunlight during the evenings, it'll be more convenient  for DIY projects around the house. (Tip: remember to get your husband to agree in helping with the DIY projects). Read Skimbaco Home for decorating inspiration for your home. 

3. Let me start with a question - what happened with your New Year's resolution and your diet..? If the time change has you going to bed earlier every night, it's a good reason to start getting up earlier too each morning. Use this extra time to exercise and you will not just get used to getting up earlier but also getting ready for what comes after spring: summer and swimsuit season. Forget about New Year's resolutions, especially those that didn't work out... and start living life to the fullest tomorrow by starting with little morning workouts. Even if you just go for a walk, it will give you energy for the rest of the day! 

4. Start spending more time outdoors later this month. You will not just have light for longer, but the weather is also getting warmer, and it is also a great time to start getting your backyard ready for summer or do more outdoor sports. I just went to Kmart  the other weekend and saw a ton of great garden furniture and grills and thought how cool it is how quickly the BBQ season is approaching us. I am making a Spring resolution right now: I will grill before the month of March is over! Who's with me?