The clocks have changed, but your body may not have caught up yet.
If you’re feeling unusually tired, having trouble concentrating, or finding it harder to stay motivated, you’re not alone. Even a one-hour shift can temporarily disrupt your normal sleep and energy patterns.
For mortuary college students balancing classes, studying, work, family responsibilities, and other commitments, that temporary energy dip can make an already busy schedule feel even more demanding.
Sleep matters to learning, too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that getting enough sleep helps students stay focused, improve concentration, and support academic performance. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to help your body adjust while keeping your studies on track.
Why Does the Time Change Affect Your Energy?
Your body doesn’t run entirely by the clock on your phone. It also follows an internal 24-hour cycle called your circadian rhythm. Light, darkness, sleep, meals, and daily routines all provide signals that help keep this internal clock on schedule.
When the clocks suddenly move by an hour, your daily schedule changes immediately, but your body’s internal clock may take longer to adjust.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that changing to or from daylight saving time can disrupt sleep and wake patterns for approximately five to seven days. People who are already not getting enough sleep may notice the effects more.
That adjustment period can be particularly noticeable when you’re trying to learn new material, prepare for an exam, complete assignments, or stay attentive during a long day of classes.
1. Protect Your Sleep Schedule
When you’re busy with school, sleep can sometimes feel like the easiest thing to sacrifice. Staying up another hour to study may seem productive, but being awake longer doesn’t necessarily mean you’re learning more effectively.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that adults generally get at least seven hours of sleep on a regular basis. Consistency matters, too. Try to keep your bedtime and wake time reasonably steady while your body adjusts to the time change.
If possible, avoid trying to fix a tiring week by dramatically changing your sleep schedule from one night to the next. Give your body a predictable routine and a few days to reset.
2. Get Some Morning Light
One of the simplest ways to help reset your internal clock is also one of the easiest: step outside.
Morning light provides an important signal to the body’s circadian system. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends getting early morning sunlight around a time change because bright morning light can help regulate the internal clock that influences sleep and alertness.
You don’t need to completely redesign your morning routine. Try taking a short walk, drinking your morning coffee outside, spending a few minutes outdoors before class, or simply getting outside before beginning a study session.
A little morning light can help tell your body that the day has started.
3. Put Your Most Demanding Schoolwork in Your Best Hours
Not every hour of the day is equally productive, especially when your sleep schedule feels off.
If you’re sharpest in the morning, use that time for challenging reading, exam preparation, or assignments that require your full attention. If you concentrate better later in the day, structure your schedule accordingly when you can.
Save lower-intensity tasks for periods when your energy naturally drops. Those might include:
- Organizing class notes
- Reviewing your calendar and upcoming deadlines
- Preparing materials for the next day
- Checking completed assignments
- Reviewing material you’ve already learned
This isn’t about doing less. It’s about matching the difficulty of the work to the times when you’re most capable of doing it well.
4. Use Caffeine Strategically, Not as a Substitute for Sleep
When afternoon fatigue hits, another cup of coffee or an energy drink can be tempting. Caffeine can temporarily improve alertness, but it shouldn’t become the solution to an ongoing lack of sleep.
Caffeine too close to bedtime can also make falling asleep more difficult, which can create an unhelpful cycle: you’re tired, so you use more caffeine; the caffeine makes sleeping harder; then you wake up tired and need another boost.
If caffeine is already part of your routine, try keeping most of it earlier in the day while your body adjusts. Combine that with adequate sleep, regular meals, water, and a little physical activity rather than relying on caffeine alone to get through the day.
5. Give Yourself a Few Days to Reset
Perhaps the most important tip is simply recognizing that a temporary dip in energy doesn’t mean you’ve suddenly become less disciplined or less capable.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says sleep disruption associated with the time change can last about five to seven days. If you feel a little slower than usual during that period, work with your energy rather than fighting it.
Break larger assignments into smaller tasks. Take short breaks during longer study sessions. Keep your sleep and wake times consistent. Get outside during the morning. And prioritize the assignments or exams that genuinely need your attention first.
Your normal energy and concentration may just need a little time to catch up with the clock.
Small Habits Can Make a Busy Week Easier
Mortuary college can require concentration, organization, time management, and the ability to balance several responsibilities at once. Add work, family, commuting, and everyday life, and protecting your energy becomes part of protecting your study time.
The time change is a good reminder that taking care of yourself and succeeding in school aren’t competing goals. Sleep, movement, daylight, and a consistent routine can help you stay focused on what you’re working toward.
If this week feels a little harder than the one before it, give yourself some time to adjust. Keep your routine steady, use your best hours wisely, and keep moving forward.
At Pierce College of Funeral Service, our students come to funeral service education from many different backgrounds and stages of life. Whether you’re exploring a career in funeral service or already working toward your education, building routines that support your learning can help you make the most of the time and energy you have.
Use This Reset to Think About What’s Next
The time change can naturally slow things down for a few days while your body and routine adjust. That can also make it a good time to step back, get organized, and think about where you want to go next.
If a career in funeral service has been on your mind, use this time to start putting your plan together. Research your options, think about your goals, and take the first step when you’re ready.
November is an especially good time to get started. Pierce College of Funeral Service is taking care of the application fee throughout the month, so now is a great time to take advantage of the offer and begin planning for your future.
A career in funeral service begins with a commitment to care. This November, let us take care of your application fee while you take the next step toward your future.
Start your online application today at.