Daylight Saving Time ends each fall. People in the Greater Dayton area “fall back” by turning their clocks back one hour.

Even though we may be getting an “extra hour of sleep,” doctors with Kettering Health Network’s Sleep Centers say anytime you make a change to your normal sleep routine, your sleeping patterns will be affected.

“The ‘fall back’ is usually beneficial for most people, and it does not seem to be associated with the same health consequences we see in the springtime change,” notes Michael Bonnet, PhD, the clinical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Kettering Health Miamisburg. “If you change the clock on your wall correctly and keep your same sleep times, you gain an hour of sleep. Since most people are a little sleep deprived, sleeping an extra hour will make you feel more alert.”

However, if you already wake up earlier than you would like, Dr. Bonnet says the time change may cause some additional stress. Due to the small change in your underlying biological rhythm of sleep and wake, your internal clock will be challenged for a few days.

Dr. Bonnet says the additional sleep will probably add more REM or dream sleep before awakening in the morning. So sweet dreams!