Hate Daylight Saving Time? Here’s How It Can Affect Your Physical and Mental Health

If you hate daylight saving timeyou are not alone. According to a 2023 YouGov poll62% of US adults would like to stop turning their clocks forward and back every year. But when asked to choose fixed time over daylight saving time, there is no majority: 50% want permanent daylight saving time, 31% want permanent standard time, 12% have no preference, and 7% are unsure of their answer.

First proposed by Benjamin Franklin, daylight saving time refers to the practice of moving the clocks forward one hour in the spring (usually March or April) and turning the clocks back one hour in the fall. The purpose of this was to provide an extra hour of daylight on summer evenings and to show the same courtesy on winter mornings. In return, people will be able to save more energy by using sunlight.

Experiencing these changes can have significant effects on our health. Notes by John Hopkins During daylight saving time, people experience more stress, traffic deaths increase, hospital admissions due to serious health effects such as strokes and heart attacks, and much more.

Our guide explores how daylight saving time affects your body mentally and physically. We will also cover how this affects your physical activity and ways to prepare your body for it.

The effect of daylight saving time on mental health

One of the biggest effects of DST is lack of sleep, especially when you’re prominent. When your body doesn’t get enough sleep, the frontal lobe of your brain is affected. Think of your frontal lobe as your best friend that doesn’t allow you to act on impulse. When you don’t sleep well or get enough sleep, your frontal lobe’s ability to make sound decisions is affected. Therefore, you are more prone to making sudden decisions.

Meanwhile, when you fall back later in the year, your body does not receive as much sunlight as before. When this happens, your body fails. producing enough serotonin — a mood-boosting chemical. In turn, you feel depleted of energy and may be more sensitive to mood swings, which can put you in a difficult situation. risk of depression. AARP reports that after people turned their clocks back in the fall, 11% increase in depression.

Effects of daylight saving time on physical health

There is plenty of evidence to show that DST affects our bodies physically as well as mental health. Let’s start with you sleep cycle. When you move your clocks forward one hour in the spring, body’s internal clock Because you go to bed later and wake up earlier than usual. This will not go away on its own. This may continue as long as daylight saving time continues.

Changes in hormone regulation

This disruption in rhythm can also manifest itself in other ways. When you change the time for DST, your body’s ability to produce melatonin rhythmically is affected. This is because your body is used to it. producing melatonin when it’s dark outside. If there was before bedtimebut since it’s still light when you go to bed, it can affect your body’s ability to produce light. When your body does not produce enough melatonin, it leads to other health problems such as: sleep disordersmood changes, increased anxiety and high rates of estrogen and progesterone.

Increased risk of heart-related problems

It’s not uncommon to see a spike in heart-related problems right after the time change, as you get less sleep due to DST. Research has revealed that there is an increase heart attack And shot For the first two weeks after the time change; The highest risk is in the first three weeks after the change. Your body produces more stress because it doesn’t get more sleep. Also because DST was interrupted circadian rhythmsIt can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and production of the stress hormone cortisol. The great news is that after the first two weeks of the time change, there is less risk of heart-related problems such as stroke or heart attack.

Effect on metabolism and weight regulation

DST can also slow down metabolism and produce hunger hormones such as leptin. come in. The production of hunger hormones occurs when your body is not receiving hunger hormones. adequate sleep — think seven to nine hours per night. These hormones won’t direct you to the produce section of your grocery store, either. It can trigger high-calorie cravings, which can interfere with weight regulation.

Effects of daylight saving time on daily activities and productivity

Because it’s yours the body may have difficulty adjusting to DSTIt’s not surprising to see that you may experience a drop in productivity as you go through this process. This is due to lack of sleep as DST disrupts your body’s internal clock. In contrast, the Entrepreneur was found increasing events cyberloafing on the Monday following daylight savings time. Because you’re tired, your body spends more time focusing on low-activity things like surfing the internet.

Impact on exercise routines and physical activity levels

DST also affects physical activities. Because you may experience more fatigue. lack of sleepyou are less inclined to do more physically demanding tasks exercisesThis is physical and sanity. Additionally, as your body may be sleep deprived, it may produce higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. High cortisol levels can cause rapid weight gain, muscle weakness, and high blood pressure.

Changes in social interaction and relationships

The Wall Street Journal found this DST can also affect our relationships negative. Think about times when you don’t get enough sleep: You’re often more irritable, quick to react, and don’t listen to people. This creates a tense situation where you may get into more arguments with loved ones, colleagues, and friends.

Even worse, you might get back together. When you’re tired, you’re less likely to participate in social events because you’re already exhausted, and just the thought of attending them causes more stress.

Impact of daylight saving time on vulnerable populations

children and young people

There are certain age groups that DST affects more than most. Let’s start with children and adolescents. Since children need to go to school early, moving the clocks forward can cause many people to suffer from sleep deprivation. Their bodies are not used to being lighter closer to bedtime. Therefore, they may not be able to fall asleep when they should. When they don’t get enough sleep, they experience problems such as drowsiness, increased mood swings and the inability to concentrate.

Meanwhile, in autumn, they cannot get enough sunlight because they spend most of the day at school. This leads to a decrease in serotonin Children and adolescents more susceptible to depression.

older adults

Similar to children, older adults also experience sleep disturbance issues due to DST. Therefore, it is important to avoid driving while sleep-deprived because your body’s frontal lobe does not process information quickly enough, leading to impulsive decisions that can increase the risk of a car accident. In addition, it is also important to comply with meal and medication times. As people get older, they can become more confused about what time it is based on the changing environment outside.

People with pre-existing health conditions

Daylight saving time may worsen pre-existing health conditions by increasing risk factors. To show that DST may affect your sleep quality if your blood pressure is high. Over time, this can raise your heart rate and raise your blood pressure even further, putting you at risk of stroke. Therefore, if you have an underlying health condition, it is vital to consult your doctor about ways to ease the effects of DST.

Tips to prepare for daylight saving time

Let’s start with when daylight saving time will happen in 2024. It starts at 02:00 on Sunday, March 10, 2024 and ends at 02:00 on Sunday, November 3, 2024. Knowing this information ahead of time can help you take the necessary steps to prepare. For the changes your body will face.

• Set a sleep schedule: Accordingly, as you get closer to moving your clocks forward one hour, prepare your sleep schedule accordingly. Start by going to bed 15 to 20 minutes earlier each night. Start a few weeks before setting your clock and increase by 15-20 minute increments each week until you’re going to bed an hour earlier. This may seem insufficient at first glance, but it also prepares your body for the change in time.
• Eliminate distractions: Do not eat spicy foodsYou can drink coffee or play games on your phone right before going to bed. Instead, take some time to relax, read a book, or go outside for a bit.
• Adjust your workouts for maximum sunlight: If you are used to long rides walking in the afternoon During spring and summer, change this to fall and winter mornings. Doing this increases serotonin production by allowing you to get more sunlight.
• Set meal times: If you’re used to eating dinner at 7 p.m. before fast-forwarding time, keep moving forward at the same time. Similar to your sleep schedule, adjust meal times to 15- to 20-minute intervals as you approach daylight saving time.
• Find creative outlets: Winter is harsh because the sun doesn’t come out much, and it can become easy to feel lonely and depressed. When you can’t be outside to exercise, find a creative hobby that will allow you to focus on something else with a goal in mind. Achieving goals is a great way to increase dopamine and serotonin production, which can prevent anxiety and depression.