Today, Sunday, March 9th, we will turn our clocks forward one hour (or, as is the case with our smart devices, wake to them magically adjusted). Whether it stems from sleep-deprived frustration, health concerns, or personal gripes, the bi-yearly switch faces increasing pushback, with some states considering eliminating it entirely. Daylight-saving time is separate from our switch back and forth. It refers to the time we use for the spring and summer, while standard time is used during the fall and winter. We have just switched over into daylight-saving time.
Daylight-saving was originally created to conserve energy. The U.S. Department of Defense explains that it was implemented in 1918 by the Standard Time Act. Through this act, daylight-saving time allowed people to do more work during daylight, which saved energy costs during World War I. However, the idea had existed for centuries before the Defense Department got involved. In 1784, bifocal-clad Benjamin Franklin introduced the idea through a satirical essay in Journal de Paris. He suggested that Parisians should wake up earlier to use more daylight for working and save lamp fuel.
Over a hundred years later, more serious proposals for tweaking time were proposed. George Hudson, an entomologist (bug scientist) and William Willett, a golfer, both devised strategies for extending daylight hours to make time for their respective interests. In 1895, Hudson proposed a two-hour clock clawback and, as a result, gets the most credit for inventing daylight-saving time (DST).
In a post-Standard-Time-Act world, the system of switching our clocks twice a year has been fully implemented, but not without unintended consequences. According to Johns Hopkins, switching our clocks disrupts our circadian rhythms, or our internal body clock, which is sensitive to daylight. These circadian disruptions can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.
A Business Insider study found that only 21% of Americans want to keep changing the clocks twice a year. So, if there are health issues associated with the switch and such a small percentage wants to keep it, why can we not rid ourselves of changing our clocks? One thing holding back action is deciding whether standard or daylight-saving time should be used permanently. Without a popular consensus on which time to use permanently, policy makers have had difficulty making decisions. So, despite most Americans wanting to see change, they are left continuing to change their clocks twice a year.
Those who prefer daylight-saving time reference benefits to our health and economy. With more hours of daylight after traditional work hours, people can engage in physical recreation more easily. It also frees up time for people to shop and contribute to the economy. Fewer car accidents are recorded during daylight than when people drive in the dark, suggesting a safer commute home.
However, there are passionate advocates for standard time year-round as well. Sunlight that lasts later into the evening hours means the sun is setting closer to many individuals’ bedtimes and rising after they wake up, disrupting sleep cycles. With the rise of online shopping, individuals also argue that it is not crucial to the economy for people to have daylight hours to shop after work.
It's unsure how long we’ll remain divided or when there will be a definitive solution for the clock chaos. If nothing else, the debate can be a refreshing reminder that time is relative and your corporate schedule is not real. The only time that matters is the present! It may be up to us to prioritize being active and getting good sleep, no matter what the clock says.
Haley Whitley is a naturalist at Walking Mountains who forgets to turn the clock in her car forward until it’s time to turn it back again.