Ready or not, it’s that time of year again. This weekend we fall back before the end of daylight saving time.

On Sunday at 2 a.m., turn the clock back one hour.

We get more daylight in the morning hours, but the sun sets earlier and that can mean shorter moods for some.

Experts say the so-called “fall-back blues” aren’t just in your head.

Even if we gain an hour, it can throw off your body’s rhythm as we enter the shortest days of the year.

Experts say the loss of sunlight affects your body’s production of mood-regulating hormones such as serotonin and melatonin. You could also lose natural vitamin B, which improves your mood, and all of this can be made worse by seasonal depression.

“A lot of times people think that (depression) is because of the holidays, that they feel so sad, but it can actually be because of the season, the weather and the lack of sunlight we get and the fact that our days are shorter,” says Denitrea Vaughan of Thriveworks Counseling of Grand Prairie. “So when you shorten those days, you’re like, oh my god, it’s already dark. You know, it’s like I have to do all these things in one day. And so it can increase stress levels. It can cause anxiety .”

Vaughan also suggested getting outside more.

HOW CAN YOU COMPENSATE ‘FALL-BACK BLUES’?

Experts at the Mayo Clinic say there are a few things you can do to try to offset the impact of the time change on your mood.

• Light therapy: Make your environment brighter by opening the blinds and sitting closer to the windows. You can even use a light box to simulate natural outdoor light in the morning.
• Go outside: Take a long walk outside or sit outside to enjoy the sun.
• Get regular exercise: Physical activity can help relieve stress and anxiety and improve your mood.
• Normalize sleep patterns: Try to get up and go to bed at the same time every day.