Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time and Is It Good For Sleep?

It’s that time of year again: Daylight Saving Time (DST). We’re here to help you understand what it is, why we have it, and if it’s going away anytime soon. Spoiler alert: DST will be continued through 2021 at least, so in a few weeks (November 7th, 2021), we will fall back one hour.

No worries, though. We have sleep tips for you to get through the transition!

Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time?

The idea for Daylight Saving Time started with Benjamin Franklin in the late 1700s. He advocated for less energy use by putting clocks forward in Spring and back in Fall to increase natural sunshine.

It wasn’t until the 1900s when the world started to adopt the practice. In 1916, Germany began Daylight Saving Time to conserve fuel. By 1966, DST was put into federal law in the United States, thus starting DST from the second Sunday of March through the first Sunday in November. 

These days, there isn’t much of a necessity for the time change, and stopping it has been gaining traction year after year. Earlier this year, a bipartisan bill was submitted to the U.S. Senate called the “Sunshine Protection Act of 2021,” calling for DST to end (no more changing the times forward or backward).

The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 requires a Senate vote now, and if it becomes a law, DST will be permanent, which means there will be no more changing the clock twice per year.

Pros and Cons of Daylight Saving Time

Now that we know Daylight Saving Time is the time of year where we are quite literally saving daylight by extended sunshine hours let’s talk impact. While it is a tedious practice, and the initial reasons it started years ago are antiquated, there are pros and cons. 

The Pros 

The pros for DST boil down to four main ideas: Safety, energy, economy, and lifestyle. 

Safety

One thing you may not have considered is your safety and how it can be dependent on sunshine. Experts have found a significant decrease in crimes and traffic accidents when there is an increase in sunlight.

A Stanford study found robbery rates decreased by an average of 51% during the hour of sunset following the shift to DST in Spring. The authors also noted a significant decrease in murder and rape. 

Energy

While energy challenges and technology have grown exponentially over the last 100+ years, energy conservation is still a valid concern and goal. With DST, we’re able to minimize our time lighting our homes.

The U.S. Department of Transportation found that DST had a negligible effect on electricity use (a 1% decrease). 

Economy

Daylight Saving Time has some positive impacts on the economy. According to several studies, daylight later keeps people staying at work, shopping later, and more. The more people are out and about, increases sales for various industries.

For example, the golf industry reports one month of DST is worth $200 to $400 million because of extended evening hours for play (the golf industry has lobbied for the extension of DST). You can imagine that this phenomenon happens throughout other outdoor sectors (BBQ, public recreation).

With that said, there are many variables at play, and DST isn’t the only reason for these increases.

Lifestyle

Finally, the lifestyle benefits. Having more light during the day is a game-changer for many people. Children can get outdoors longer, sunshine is excellent for mental health in general, and more can be done outdoors.

The Cons

The main cons to DST include: Health and sleep effects, nonessential, business, and lifestyle (again!). 

Health and Sleep

Any changes to your sleep schedule will throw your body for a loop. Unfortunately, DST requires your sleep schedule to change two times per year, interrupting your routines and throwing off your circadian rhythm.

Not to mention, regulating your sleep schedule takes time, and you’ll often experience a lot of sleepiness for even a week afterward. Additionally, a study has found an increased incidence of heart attacks on the following Monday. The Swedish study found an average of 6.7% greater risk for heart attack in the days following the Spring time change.

This change can have a significant impact on quality of life, overall health, and sleep practices.

Outdated 

As mentioned, DST has been around for a very long time, and throughout that time, things have changed. Unfortunately, the reasons DST may have made sense in the past aren’t as true today. For example, DST might not have as much of a positive impact on energy conservation. 

A study found that when Indiana countries adjusted their clocks, they ended up needing air-conditioning systems more, increasing the energy and counteracting the potential energy conserved in other ways. 

Business

There is evidence to support a positive impact of DST on the economy, but studies also show a hit to business during DST. Considering the significant health and sleep impacts, these lead to lower productivity, missed days of work, and more.

Lifestyle

More sunshine each day is excellent, but does it matter more than the adverse reactions? DST is connected to difficulty with timekeeping, required pattern changes, and other lifestyle changes that interrupt daily life.

Sleep Tips For DST

While there is a push to stop the biannual time changes, we will be cooperating for the foreseeable future, so let’s talk about some great tips to get through the shift easily.

Sleep Tip #1: Prepare

Any change in life can be made more accessible by easing into it, especially when it comes to your brain. Your circadian rhythm is a sensitive and complex system responsible for the chemical release and proper brain function. Sleep is essential to keep your body running, and your brain needs adequate time to do what it has to do at night.

Keeping to a solid, consistent sleep routine (throughout the day) is critical. Prepare for DST (this Fall) without shocking your body too much by maintaining 7+ hours of sleep per night. Ease into the change with adjustments for ten days before “falling back” by waking up 10-15 minutes later every day.

Sleep Tip #2: Keep Routines

Routines are crucial for healthy, quality sleep. A change in sleep and wake times shouldn’t change your patterns much.

As you slowly adjust to new wakeup times before the shift, make any tweaks to your routine, you might need. For example, waking up later might mean you need to get your outfit for the day ready the night before. 

Sleep Tip #3: Nap

Naps are okay! But keep them short. Sleepiness during the time changes is normal, and experts recommend naps as needed. 

If you opt for a nap, keep them to 20 minutes or less.

Sleep Tip #4: Take Sleep Seriously

A one-hour change doesn’t seem like much but is proven to throw off the body’s processes and functions. We urge you to do your best in following the above tips by easing into the change, keeping to your healthy sleep habits, and leaning on supports as needed.

If you have some room to improve in your sleep routine, here are ten science-backed tips to help you sleep year-round and better adjust to changes like DST: 

1. Use a sunlight alarm and sunlight to regulate your internal clock.
2. Stick to your sleep schedule, even on the weekends! 
3. Create morning and nighttime rituals you enjoy. A refreshing routine for the morning and a way to wind down at night.
4. Keep your bed for sleep only, clean your sheets, and wash up before bed.
5. Opt for a cool, quiet, dark sleep environment.
6. Sleep in your own bed and mind your sleep position.
7. Speak with a healthcare professional about sleep disturbances, concerns, or problems. 
8. Use white noise to lull to sleep or block out noise.
9. Eat well but not right before bed.
10. Stay active, but not right before bed.

Daylight Saving Time is Here

Love it or hate it, DST is here for now. Thankfully, Hatch is also here for you, ready to make the transition smooth for everyone in the home. Work on maintaining healthy habits, a solid routine, and easing into changes as needed throughout the year to best support your body’s function.