On March 9, we sprung forward our clocks to begin Daylight Savings Time (DST). For many, it seems like a useless tradition, but it was actually created for a good reason. According to the Coloradan, the University of Colorado Boulder’s alumni magazine, it first started during WWI for energy saving and so people could work later into the night. It was reinstated during WWII and stuck since then. But now, in the 21st century, is it still necessary? DST is annoying, many can admit that, but the question is, why? Is DST all bad for high school students, or is there a plus side?
The most obvious reason people dislike DST is that we lose an hour of sleep, but it also causes confusion around the country and in our day-to-day lives and can even be a cause of seasonal depression. It’s hard to think positively about DST because of all the negative aspects, but there is actually some good to it as well! Some of the pros include the late summer nights and mornings, the active lifestyle it promotes, and it limits crime rates and car accidents.
Con: Sleep
When DST started on March 9, clocks “sprung forward” an hour by going from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.. Obviously, this means we all lost one hour of sleep. As explained by Laura López González, web science writer at UCSF News, the day after DST has coined the term “Sleepy Monday” 13-18-year-olds need 8-10 hours of sleep, which so many high schoolers are already not meeting, and losing one extra hour can be even worse. “Lack of sleep is most commonly linked to an increased risk for depression and anxiety disorders.” Along with that, it can lead to more health issues like “cardiovascular events, like high blood pressure and heart disease, weight gain and a weakened immune system.” Also, having it stay light out later causes people to stay up later. An article from Healthline explains, “standard time aligns with most people’s circadian rhythm much better than daylight savings time, so many people sleep less during daylight savings time.” While one night of bad sleep isn’t necessarily harmful, DST can cause sleep schedules to be permanently disrupted, which can have lasting effects.
Pro: Active Lifestyle
Staying outside later at night in the summer allows us not only to be with our friends outdoors later but it also makes it easier and motivates us to do physical exercise outdoors later at night after we get off of work or activity. For example, it won’t be pitch black when going for a run at 8:30, or playing late-night pickleball, basketball, tennis, or any other outdoor sport. Going swimming is also a fun summer activity that is easier to do when it’s light out. The problem lies in the winter when the sun sets early. But, when you think about the sun setting earlier, it can act as motivation to get everything done before it gets dark. For example, you may avoid procrastinating taking your dog for a walk, running errands, going to the gym, etc., because you don’t want to drive when it is dark and potentially snowing.
Con: Confusion
A map from USA Facts shows that while most states follow DST, Arizona and Hawaii are the only two states that don’t change the clocks for DST and several states have had legislation enacted or resolutions passed to keep DST permanently. Having three different options of time causes confusion around the country on what each state is doing on March 9. If DST was stopped entirely, this confusion would not exist. Another way this causes confusion is that most clocks don’t change on their own. So, when our alarms go off an hour earlier in our phones, the other clocks in the house will say it’s an hour earlier than it is. Then you have to spend some time going around your house and changing every clock.
Pro: Limits Unfortunate Incidents
Late at night when it is dark out is the most common time for things like traffic accidents and crime, and during DST when the sun sets later, there is less time for these things to occur. Driving home when it’s dark versus driving when it’s light makes a huge difference in your chances of getting into an accident. When it comes to crime, Stanford University reports that “robbery rates decrease by an average of 51% during the hour of sunset following the shift to DST in the spring. We also find large drops in cases of reported murder (48%) and rape (56%).”
Con: Seasonal Depression
In the winter, the weather is bad, the roads are bad to drive on, school is at its peak, and the sun sets at what seems like 4 p.m.. There is no doubt that the darkness adds to our seasonal depression. When we fall back for the cold months “some people may be less inclined to go back out after work if it is dark,” says Sara Benjamin, a neurologist at John Hopkins University, “and that may impact mood as they have changes in social interactions.” The darkness of the winter can make people less motivated to get out during the winter, especially on top of the cold temperatures.
Pro: Late Summer Nights
In the summer, high school students, in particular, love spending their evenings with their friends and doing fun activities. If we stayed on standard time the whole year, the sun would set closer to 8 p.m. rather than 9 p.m. in the summer, almost putting a limit on these fun outdoor activities. To add, the sun also rises later in the summer due to DST, so we can sleep in easier.
After weighing the pros and cons, it is so hard to decide what should be done about DST. Are the long days during the span worth the loss of sleep? Does the countrywide confusion it causes overpower the motivation DST can provide? Before confirming your opinion make sure to understand all of the aspects of the old tradition.
