Every year, the hour hand on the clock is shifted to supposedly increase productivity; however, is this really the case? The biannual time change can be annoying, especially when we spring forward and lose an hour of sleep! In reality, it is more than just a nuisance.
The days following the transition, both in the fall and in the spring, however, are dangerous and correspond with an increase in mortality. The disruptions in sleep schedules, for example, have been shown to increase deadly car accidents up to 30% on the day clocks spring forward and 16% on the day they fall back. Daylight saving has also been correlated with an increase in workplace injuries. As shown in a BBC article by Jennifer Chesak, “a nearly 6% increase in injuries on the Monday after clocks sprang forward.” The medical industry especially suffers, seeing a 19% increase in safety-related incidents in the week after springing forward and an almost 5% increase in the week after falling back. Inherent health issues also increase dramatically following the time change. Analysis of over 80,000 cases in the US and Europe have shown an increase in heart attacks from 4% to 29% after clocks sprang forward. Hospitalizations for strokes also increased by almost 8%. Mental health is affected as well, with an 11% increase in depressive episodes occurring after the spring time change.
The time change is clearly harmful in a myriad of ways. But in eliminating it, we must choose a schedule to which we should stick to: the daylight saving time that we follow during the summer months, or standard time, which is generally observed during the winter. Though the two options are only an hour apart, standard time—in which the sun sets and rises earlier—is much better for our health. The light in the early mornings aligns our internal clocks to our surroundings, meaning we don’t suffer from “social jet lag,” which has been shown to lead to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and depression. Waking up to get to work or school is much less of a struggle, as the light exposure cues the release of hormones that allow for an increase in energy and alertness. And the lack of light at night isn’t the problem it may seem to be, as darkness releases melatonin, the hormone that increases feelings of sleepiness.
Some argue that keeping daylight saving time permanently would benefit the economy, as people tend to be more active and spend more money when there are extended evening daylight hours. However, regardless of how we set our clocks, the total amount of sunlight remains the same. Research suggests that a permanent switch to standard time would have little impact on outdoor activities during the summer, as sunset times during peak vacation months remain unchanged. Another argument in favor of daylight saving time is that electric lights allow us to adjust our schedules regardless of natural daylight. While artificial light can help regulate body clocks, it is far less effective than natural sunlight. Indoor light is typically 100 to 1000 times dimmer than daylight, making it insufficient for maintaining proper circadian rhythms. Some claim that Daylight Saving Time reduces energy consumption, but the evidence is mixed. While one older US study suggests a 0.5% decrease in energy use, another found a 4% increase. In fact, Arizona opted out of daylight saving time to conserve energy, as they found that people were running their air conditioning later in the day. As global warming leads to rising temperatures across various states, this phenomenon will only increase.
Ultimately, the science is clear: daylight saving time is an unnecessary and harmful practice. It increases accidents, disrupts our sleep, and negatively affects our health. By adopting permanent standard time, we can align our schedules with natural light, improve well-being, and eliminate the chaos of biannual clock changes. It’s time to let daylight saving time fall into history.
