March 8, 2024/Midnight
Erie Pa.— It’s about that time to spring our clocks an hour ahead once again. Some positives to this time change are that we are getting much closer to the nice, hot, relaxing, months of summer, and we will have the obvious perk of more daylight. On the other hand, we unfortunately lose an hour of sleep, and we must make sure that we remember to manually adjust all our analog wall clocks and wrist watches to the proper time. Much like when we changed our clocks back an hour in the fall, this hour can be disorientating, and may cause some of us to be completely thrown off of our regular routine, leaving us feeling groggy and sluggish for a couple of days, weeks or even months as our bodies get used to getting up an hour earlier. In this article we will go over some ways that we brace our bodies to easily transition into this new phase of the year.
But first, what is daylight saving time? According to Time and Date, daylight saving time (DST) is the yearly routine of changing the clocks from standard time by setting the clocks forward for an hour in the spring and back again in the fall.
Dozens of countries across the globe take part in the practice every year, including most of the US. Some states, including Hawaii and Arizona, have decided to opt for the annual switching of the clocks.
Today, DST starts every year on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday of November. The dates have changed a few times since the original start of DST in 1916 during World War I to when the practice was officially signed into federal law in 1966.
This practice was implemented to conserve energy and to have the hours of daylight match when people were awake, according to History.
Next, how does this time change affect one’s body, sleep schedule, and overall self-balance?
Well, according to The Weather Channel, the changing time has been linked to numerous health risks and other issues. The biggest issue reported as an effect of DST is the decline of sleep health.
According to Northwestern Medicine, DST has a negative impact on the body’s circadian rhythms, which are the physical, mental, and behavioral changes that any living thing goes through during a 24-hour period, regulated by the body’s internal clock.
When our internal clock and the sun’s clock are out of sync, our sleep schedule can be thrown off, which in turn sets off other issues, due to the body not being able to function properly. This bodily disfunction can lead to depression, mood swings, grogginess, slowed metabolism, weight gain, and migraines.
Sleep deprivation caused by DST has also been connected to a higher rate of fatal car crashes, according to John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Other major health issues that can arise are cardiovascular issues and a higher risk of stroke.
Also, it is important to note that DST has been met with a lot of resistance within most of the countries that partake in the practice, including the US. There are many debates on whether DST should still be implemented today, especially since there are so many proven health and wellness risks associated with the time change.
Although some individuals worldwide do not feel strongly about the annual time change, the consensus seems more negative than positive. The 2020 Sleep Prioritization Survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine showed the 63 percent of the 2,007 participants were in favor of eliminating seasonal time changes and keeping a fixed, standard time year-round.
The Northwestern Medicine article “Daylight Saving Time and Your Health” offers “steps to saving zzz’s,” or some methods that we can add into our routine to brace our bodies and schedules for the impact of DST. First, considering the time change, try to stick to a strict sleep schedule and head to bed an hour early a couple days before the change to be one step ahead of the curve.
Another suggestion is to get extra natural sunlight exposure in the morning to preserve your circadian rhythms. Exercise in the morning is also an effective way to help your body to wake up and keep your internal clock on track. Lastly, try to avoid anything that could throw your sleep schedule off, such as excessive amounts of caffeine, alcohol consumption, and/or screen time directly before bed.
Overall, daylight saving time can be seen in both a positive and a negative light. On one side of the spectrum DST in the spring means that we are not too far away from summer, and we get a necessary extra hour of daylight.
On the other side of the spectrum, we can see some changes in the way our morning routine goes and how some individuals may feel thrown off of their life’s axis. Overall, seasonal changes and time changes can be difficult for all of us. The important thing to remember is to be patient with your body as our internal clocks take the time they need to adjust and realign with the sun’s clock once again.
