That extra hour of sleep is amazing, right? Certainly, better than the spring when we need to relinquish that precious hour. But let’s not forget the havoc it wreaks on our system . . . and our systems! If you’ve recently gotten into the home automation game, you know what I’m talking about. Everything is off by an hour, and you’ve got to get caught up! Fortunately, you’re well-rested!

First off, let’s go about changing any timers in the house that require manual changing. Check your phone or another means of reliable current time to make sure your settings are correct. If everything in your house changes automatically, well, congratulations! You’re winning!

Next up, let’s check our outdoor landscape lighting and security lighting. If you’re using dusk-to-dawn fixtures with photocells, you’ve got a head start. But since time change happens only twice a year, it’s a great reminder to check the integrity of all your bulbs and fixtures. Replace any bulbs that are flickering or failing. Consider replacing a few of your outdoor bulbs with yellow lights. Even though it’s not summertime, pesky mosquitoes and other bugs are still out and about and can prevent you from enjoying the cooler fall temperatures. It’s well-documented that yellow lights attract fewer bugs than other light bulbs. While a bug light will not magically make bugs disappear, it will make you and your home less visible to most flying insects. And make it much more pleasant to star gaze or lounge by your firepit.

Similarly, now is a great time to check your detectors and safety lighting. While you don’t think about them every day, they are always on in the background keeping you safe and sometimes require routine maintenance. Change batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. And if you have security or safety lighting, make sure those are all operating as expected. If any of your fixtures are still using halogen, fluorescent, or incandescent lamps, consider LED alternatives. They can save a lot of money on your electricity bill, and they last a lot longer than their traditional counterparts.

Time change can be tough on some folks and may cause them to lose sleep with the alteration in routine. If you’re one of those people, consider replacing a few light bulbs in your home with those that cast less blue light, a proven stealer of sleep.

And even though it might still be a little early (though major retailers think not!), now could be a great time to start your Christmas lighting design. At 1000Bulbs.com, you’ll be dazzled by the vast assortment of light strings, replacement bulbs, novelty lights, and accessories. Make sure to pick up a few outdoor timers to set your festive lights aglow at the first sign of dusk. That way you don’t even have to brave the elements to display your holiday spirit regardless of the weather conditions.

Now that you’ve recovered from “falling back” and checked all your bulbs and systems, you’re ready to get into winter! Bundle up and enjoy!