diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 34af0f0..470c0c0 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -4,12 +4,13 @@ RUN mkdir -p /app
 WORKDIR /app
 
 # resolves gcc issue with installing regex dependency
-RUN apk add build-base --no-cache
+RUN apk add build-base tzdata --no-cache
 
+ENV TZ=Africa/New_York
 ENV VIRTUAL_ENV=/app/env
-RUN python -m venv $VIRTUAL_ENV
 ENV PATH="$VIRTUAL_ENV/bin:$PATH"
 
+RUN python -m venv $VIRTUAL_ENV
 COPY requirements.txt .
 RUN pip3 install -r requirements.txt
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d588329..16c7cb2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ python run.py
 #### Run it
 ```bash
 # Run the container
-docker run --name steamgifts -d -v /path/to/the/config/folder:/config mcinj/docker-steamgifts-bot:v2.0
+# Set TZ based on your timezone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tz_database_time_zones
+docker run --name steamgifts -e TZ=America/New_York -d -v /path/to/the/config/folder:/config mcinj/docker-steamgifts-bot:v2.0
 ```
 
 #### Or build it yourself locally
@@ -36,7 +37,8 @@ docker run --name steamgifts -d -v /path/to/the/config/folder:/config mcinj/dock
 # Build the image
 docker build -t steamgifts:latest .
 # Run the container
-docker run --name steamgifts -d -v /path/to/the/config/folder:/config steamgifts:latest
+# Set TZ based on your timezone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tz_database_time_zones
+docker run --name steamgifts -e TZ=America/New_York -d -v /path/to/the/config/folder:/config steamgifts:latest
 ```