Daylight Savings Time Is Not Saving the Day

The Change in Time Is Completely Unnecessary

Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash

Daylight savings time (DST) has been a controversial topic for a long time.  According to USA Today, the time changes between DST and standard time each fall and spring, resulting in sunnier winter mornings and brighter spring evenings. DST pushes our time ahead by one hour in an effort to lengthen days. Not only is this inconvenient, but it also takes a toll on mental and physical health. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 63% of Americans are in agreement that DST is harming the American population. Increasing sunshine is a nice thought, but it is much more trouble than it is worth.

Daylight savings leaves a negative effect on the mental health of the population. According to the Washington Post, DST results in sleep deprivation, which in turn causes a negative mood and cognitive health decline. This mental decline is likely to cause an increase in depression and car crashes, especially among teens. Sleep is of utmost importance for teenagers as their bodies are still developing and they need all the rest they can get. According to The Washington Post, teens who are not getting enough sleep are even more likely to experience mental health problems than adults. This not only affects teens but also those around them, whether it be in their homes, at school or on the road.

Daylight savings also damages humans’ physical health. According to the American Academy of Neurology, ischemic stroke risk increased by 8% during the period after DST began. Strokes were also 20% more likely for people over 65 in the days following the shift in time. According to Michigan Medicine, heart attack risk also increased during the period after time shifted by 24%, which occurred due to not only a change in sleep schedule but also an increase in stress.

Some believe that changing to permanent DST would solve the problem of universal confusion and health decline. According to the Library of Congress, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2022 was passed in the Senate but held back in the House of Representatives. This act stated that DST would be made permanent. This was an attempt at decreasing stress for American citizens who were eager for the change; however, permanent DST would only result in a greater health decline mentally and physically.

According to The Washington Post, our universe is intended to run on standard time. DST may appear to give us more sunshine, but all it does is push back sunrise and sunset. This leads to difficulty waking up and falling asleep, which is detrimental to our already sleep-deprived society.

On the other hand, permanent standard time could be a way to eliminate confusion and improve our population’s health. According to The Washington Post, the sunlight associated with mornings on standard time syncs up most directly with the internal clock of our brains. This allows better sleep and therefore better health. The consistency and health benefits of permanent standard time greatly outweigh any benefits of daylight savings.