Here’s How the Time Change Affects Texans’ Sleeping Patterns

Are you sleeping better since the time change, or are you tossing and turning more?  At my house, it's both. My wife says, "I don't rest well because the time change has messed with my head." I, on the other hand, seem to be having trouble staying awake after the sun goes down.

What gives here? Why is the time change affecting us this way, and why in different ways? Personally, I don't care for the time change because it gets dark so much earlier. I like bright lights; I do not like the darkness.

With the time change, it appears getting a good night's rest is harder than ever for some. A new study shows that adjusting to the time change is easier in some cities, and a lot harder in others.

According to a study from Coventry Direct, the way the time change affects your sleeping patterns may be due to the city in which you live. The size of the city doesn't matter. However, the following factors can affect sleeping patterns:

1. Road, train, and aviation noises
2. Construction (adding to the city noise and light pollution)
3. Crime index (giving a feeling of uncertainty)
4. Radiance (light/heat as emitted or reflected)
5. Brightness (the perception of luminance by a visual light)
6. Artificial lighting (produced by candles, light bulbs, etc)
7. Level of inactivity by state (physical inactivity causing restlessness or fatigue)
8. Hours of sunlight (sunlight regulates the body’s internal clock, which signals when to be alert and when to rest)
   Source: Coventry Direct

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The top 100 U.S. cities for a good night’s rest include several throughout the Lone Star State. One West Texas city made the Top 10. If you're ready for a good night's rest, head on out to El Paso, #7 on the list. Not too far behind is McAllen at #11, Austin at #87, San Antonio at #89, Dallas at #93, and Houston at #95.

The well-rested El Paso ranks #7 as the best city for a peaceful sleep. Dallas and Houston, on the other hand, rank #93 and #95 respectively. Doesn't that make them some of the worst cities to snooze in?