PALM HARBOR – Like it or not, Daylight Savings Time ended early Sunday morning. The extra hour of sleep also brings an earlier sunset, and it may be affecting your mood in ways you don’t even realize.

“It absolutely affects our mood and affects the way we feel with the lower amount of sunlight during the day,” said fitness instructor Kevin Carrier.

With daylight fading across the Sunshine State, there’s less time for football at the park or evenings at the playground. A change in physical activity – and earlier nights – can affect your mood.

According to Carrier, “Four to six percent of the population really goes into a deep state of depression, but there’s about 10 to 20 percent of the population that go into mild depression.”

Carrier believes exercise will help kick the winter blues. He offers a class to fight the lack of daylight.

To take part in the North Pinellas Adventure Boot Camp, you’re going to be glad you got that extra hour of sleep.

“We have our camp that starts – get ready – at 5:30 a.m. until 6:30 a.m.,” Carrier said with a grin. “But you know what? You’re up. It’s done. You’re finished. It’s awesome.”

Julie Wooten takes the class. She believes exercising with any group has another benefit for your mental health.

“I’ve made great friends in boot camp, and I look forward to coming to boot camp because that’s where I see them,” she said.

She’ll just be seeing them a little earlier with the time change.

A recent Rasmussen poll shows public opinion on the time change is split. According to the survey, 40 percent say yes, they enjoy rolling back the clock, while 45 percent say no, it’s not worth the trouble.