Daylight Savings Time - Good or Bad?
- Matt Gable
- Oct 24, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 21, 2024
The Good and Bad Effects of DST on Your Body
Twice a year, we change our clocks, "springing forward" in March and "falling back" in November. The idea behind DST is to maximise the amount of daylight we get during the evening hours. The extra hour of sunlight in the evening is supposed to give us more time for outdoor activities, save energy, and generally make life better. But does it really?
DST impacts the body in surprising ways. Depending on how you feel about losing or gaining an hour of sleep, these effects can be good or bad. Let's break down both sides of the story and see what life might be like if we said goodbye to DST forever.
The Negative Effects of Daylight Savings Time on Your Body
Accidents
What if I told you that a bad night sleep destroyed an entire city and caused the evacuation of 50,000 citizens? I'm talking about the nuclear accident in Chernobyl (1986) which is linked to sleep deprivation [1, 2]. But It's not only Chernobyl. Here are some more major disasters caused by a lack of sleep and/or a disrupted circadian rhythm:
The Exxon Valdez oil spill (1989) [3]
Three Mile Island near-meltdown (1979) [4]
The Challenger space shuttle destruction (1986) [5]
India Gas Leak (1984) [6]
American Airlines Crash (1999) [7]
Staten Island Ferry Crash (2003) [8]
Studies also show:
Tiredness caused by the clock change is thought to be the main cause for the increase in traffic accidents on the Monday following the start of DST [9]. Scientists now believe sleep is a bigger killer than drugs and alcohol when it comes to traffic accidents. One study found that fatal car accidents increase by 6% during the first few days after the spring shift [10]. It's not just drowsiness; the darker mornings that come with DST can also reduce visibility for drivers and pedestrians, adding to the danger.
On the Mondays after the start of DST there were more workplace injuries [11]. These injuries were also more severe compared to other Mondays.
The start of DST has also been linked to miscarriages for in vitro fertilisation patients [12].
Cardiovascular
A global experiment is done twice a year, using the medical records of 1.6 billion people in 70 countries [13, 14]. The results of this study are quite scary.
In the Spring, when we lose just 1 hour of sleep, there is a 24% increase in heart attacks the following day. It decreases over time for up to 3 weeks.
In the Autumn, when we gain an hour of sleep, there is a 21% decrease in heart attacks the following day.
Depression
People who already struggle with mood disorders or anxiety may find that the sudden loss of an hour can trigger mental illness, including bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression.
A Danish study found an 11% increase in depression cases after the time change [15]. The cases gradually decreased over 10 weeks.
An Australian study found that male suicide rates increased the day after the spring DST [16].
Facebook found that more people were saying they were “tired” than on a normal Monday [17].
Immune System
There’s also evidence that the disruption in sleep patterns caused by DST can affect your immune system [18]. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body becomes less efficient at fighting off infections and illnesses. Studies suggest that people are more likely to get sick after the time change, especially if they’re already stressed or sleep-deprived [19].
The Positive Effects of Daylight Savings Time on Your Body
More Evening Sunlight Means More Outdoor Activity
One of the biggest perks of DST is the longer daylight in the evening. After a long workday, having an extra hour of sunlight can motivate you to head outside for a walk, run, or bike ride. Studies show that people are more active during DST, which can be good for both physical and mental health.
The increased daylight also means more exposure to the sun, which can boost your Vitamin D levels, a critical nutrient for bone health and immune function.
Boost in Mental Health
Longer days mean you're less likely to feel sluggish or down as the sun starts setting. For many, the transition to DST brings a mood boost as they can spend more time outdoors and enjoy the sunlight, which helps to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to happiness.
Energy Savings... Sort Of
One of the original reasons for implementing DST was to save energy. The thinking was that more sunlight in the evening would reduce the need for artificial lighting, which would save on electricity bills. Some studies show that there is a small reduction in energy usage—mostly related to lighting.
Life Without Daylight Savings Time
What would life be like if we ditched DST? A lot of places around the world have already made this shift, and the US has seen discussions about abandoning the practice altogether. Arizona and Hawaii don’t observe DST at all, and Europe has considered scrapping it in favour of permanent standard time.
If we lived in a world without DST, here’s what might happen:
Better Sleep, Less Stress
Without the twice a year time shift, our sleep schedules would likely be more stable. People wouldn’t have to deal with the jet-lag symptoms that come with resetting their clocks, and that could lead to fewer accidents, lower risk of heart attacks, and generally better mental and physical health.
Darker Evenings in the Summer
One of the biggest changes would be in the summer months. Instead of having long, bright evenings, the sun would set earlier, which might affect outdoor activities and businesses that rely on evening foot traffic. You’d probably have less time to enjoy after-work picnics or a late-day run, but your mornings would be brighter.
Consistent Time Zones
The extra hour during the winter would disappear, and we'd be on a steady rhythm throughout the year. This could simplify things like travel, business calls, and even adjusting international schedules.
DST in Action: Historical Examples
DST isn’t just a modern quirk. It was first introduced during World War 1 as a way to conserve fuel. During WWII, the US went all-in on DST under the name "War Time". Over the years, there have been both failed and successful experiments with DST. For example, in 1974, during the oil crisis, the US tried year-round DST to save energy. It didn’t last long because people hated the dark winter mornings.
Sleep On It
Like most things, there are pros and cons. Personally, I think that DST leans more towards the negative than positive. Although the extra evening light can encourage physical activity and improve mental health, losing an hour of sleep can lead to serious health issues, accidents, and stress.
As more countries debate about getting rid of DST altogether, we might be living in a future where the clocks stay the same all year round. Until then, keep this in mind and start getting to bed earlier to brace for the impact of losing that hour of sleep.
It’s more important than you might think!
Similar Blogs
Comments