Kyran Cates
Reporter
Twice per year, our circadian rhythm suffers a great injustice at the hands of the clock. Daylight saving starts on Sunday, Mar. 14 and lasts until Nov. 7, but this one-hour change is not as inconsequential as it may seem.
While adjusting our clocks by one hour in the spring and in the fall may be a simple inconvenience to some, as a whole, the switch of daylight saving can have harmful effects. Evidence suggests that biannual time shifts induce more harm than good, putting the relatively new observance in the spotlight for controversy.
Originally introduced as a way to save energy during World War I, daylight saving has since lost its pertinence. In 1975, a reduced need for electrical lighting during daylight saving lowered the United States’ energy usage by nearly one percent, but the National Bureau of Economic Research has since stated that this minor conservation is offset by electricity used for heating or cooling.
Daylight saving is often credited with granting us more sunlight in the afternoon during the spring and summer months, but the second time shift in the fall regularly forces people to wonder whether it is worth the hassle. Yes, there are clear health benefits linked to moderately increased exposure to sunlight, but it’s important to weigh this with the adverse effects that come with the end of daylight saving time.
“I think when it starts getting darker earlier it leads me to have a lot more depression, and other people as well. Right now I think it does more harm for some people than good,” said Idaho State University student Brooklyn Gibbons, a sociology major.
According to an article published by the UT Southwestern Medical Center, biannual time shifts have been proven to “disrupt sleep patterns and have negative effects on your brain health.” The article goes on to cite issues stemming from disrupted sleep such as injuries in the workplace, impacts on people with seasonal affective disorder and an increased risk of mental health disorders.
From a student perspective, daylight saving can have major impacts on schoolwork, motivation and focus. Daytime sleepiness and general exhaustion caused by the disruption of natural circadian rhythms can be found in students of all ages in the weeks following the March time shift.
“During all twelve years of school, whenever the time changed I would end up freaking out because I slept in and missed the bus. I’ve never been a fan of daylight saving,” said political science major Julia Miller.
Additionally, research done by the University of Colorado has shown that the number of car crashes increases by nearly six percent during the week after both time changes due to “drowsy driving”. Daylight saving leaves people with jet lag-like symptoms, which increases deadly mistakes when behind the wheel.
Finally, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that the start and end of daylight saving time can put older individuals at an increased risk of heart attacks incited by sleep deprivation. Whether young or old, everyone faces hazards created by this largely accepted phenomenon.
Loss of sleep is a serious drawback when it comes to debating whether daylight saving should stay in place. Subsequently, cities, states and entire countries frequently consider the detriments and benefits of changing the clocks.
“I wish the time would just stay the same regardless of when the sun goes down, and I think since time is a construct, we have no need for daylight saving. We created time for no real reason, we don’t need to mess with it any further,” said Miller.
Within the U.S., Hawaii and Arizona do not observe daylight saving. Internationally, neither does Japan, India or China.
When all is said and done, it does not seem that daylight saving time will be going anywhere on a national level anytime soon. On the surface, having less sunlight during the morning and more during the evening can be seen as a simple, preferable trade-off.
When we take the time to analyze the ultimate effects of time changes, the concept is less rose-colored. Some areas have proposed “permanent daylight saving” which would offer the same benefits as late sunsets in the spring and summer, without the added risks of changing the time twice per year, and the detriments of the fall drawback.
Nonetheless talks surrounding “permanent daylight savings” are becoming increasingly more common each year.
