Sleep Research

Daylight Saving Time
and The Lost Hour

Daylight Saving Time begins in the U.S and many other countries in the spring, when we set our clocks forward one hour. In 2013, SleepBetter is focusing on that “Lost Hour”. We’ve got answers for how much it costs, where it costs the most, and how we can all gracefully cope with its loss.

The Cost of The Lost Hour

After shifting our clocks forward, many of us end up sluggish and disoriented for as much as a couple of days. How much does that cost us in productivity? SleepBetter created the Lost-Hour Economic Index to find out.

Lost Hour Heat Map

Nationally, that Lost Hour costs us a grand total of $433,982,548 in lost production and medical expenses. To figure out these numbers, we looked at how the time change can lead to an increase in heart attacks, workplace injuries in the mining and construction sectors, and increased cyberloafing in offices.

Click HERE to see an interactive heat map
visualization of the the Lost-Hour Economic Index

Click HERE to view a sortable table of the 360 metro
areas tracked in the Lost-Hour Economic Index

For information on how we calculated the index, read our news release on the Lost Hour.

Spring Forward Sleep Tips

Use these tips to help lessen the sluggishness and disoriented feeling that can be associated with the time change.

• Use light to reset your body clock. Utilizing bright light in the morning and dim light at night is the best way to adjust to your new schedule.

• Keep the caffeine to a minimum. You may find that you need a cup of coffee or a caffeinated soda to keep alert, but try to avoid drinking them late in the afternoon, as they may keep you up later.

• Avoid excessive alcohol. Alcohol can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep, something you need more than ever right after the time change.