A one-hour modification to the clock on the wall may not appear significant. However, our internal biological clock disagrees.
On Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m. local time, the U.S. “springs forward,” advancing the clocks by one hour as we transition into daylight saving time. Many of us require several days to adapt to such time alterations. During this period, we may face some repercussions.
“Heart attacks and traffic casualties tend to rise in the days following the shift to daylight saving time in the spring,” stated biologist Erik Herzog, the Viktor Hamburger Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and former president of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, a scientific body focused on the examination of biological clocks and sleep.
In this discussion, Herzog addresses several inquiries regarding the disturbances caused by daylight saving time and shares his perspective on a more advantageous approach.
How does springing forward influence health?
Individuals frequently express discontent over “losing” an hour of sleep, attributing consequences to that loss, but Herzog indicated that the issue is more complex.
“While there is data suggesting that people experience reduced sleep following the transition to daylight saving time,” he affirmed, “the issue runs deeper. Internally, you end up misaligned with the local time. You’re attempting to adapt to a new schedule without any assistance from the outside world.
“All we are doing is adjusting this instrument on the wall and then expecting your body to acclimate to a new daily routine without any signals from the environment,” Herzog noted. “Similarly, you might observe that your pets still arrive for their meals based on standard time because they organize their days according to the sun rather than the clock on the wall.”
What occurs within the body?
“Your biological clock, which regulates your daily patterns in areas such as sleep and wakefulness, eating and fasting, interprets morning light as sunrise and advances your awakening time. Light in the evening instructs your biological clock to wake up later the subsequent morning,” Herzog clarified.
In fact, individuals residing on the eastern fringes of time zones and receiving more morning sunlight generally fare better than those to the west—regarding health, economic status, and other measures of well-being, he pointed out.
Current scientific findings indicate that year-round standard time may be the more beneficial choice for health, as well as for aspects like safety and educational performance.
What is the existing status of legislation?
“There is a rising interest in permanent standard time over continuous daylight saving time,” Herzog remarked. Alongside numerous societies of physicians and scientists, Herzog supports maintaining standard time. “Presently, 21 states are reviewing bills for permanent standard time. For the first time, the majority of these bills aim for permanent standard time rather than permanent daylight saving time—although, as seen in Missouri, some states have proposals for both.
“Missouri has three bills advocating for permanent standard time and two for permanent daylight saving time currently up for evaluation,” he mentioned.
What obstacles prevent us from abolishing time changes?
“Any state can function on permanent standard time. It necessitates an act of Congress to permit permanent daylight saving time,” Herzog explained.
Some would like to see that modified. At the federal level, U.S. Senators Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., recently reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act to eliminate the biannual time change and establish daylight saving time as the national year-round standard. The bill has been previously introduced during several Congressional sessions.
Herzog would prefer a national consensus in favor of permanent standard time.
“While most people want to conclude the perplexing spring forward, it does require careful planning to ensure that things like airline schedules, organized months in advance, remain unaffected,” he added.
So, what can be done (besides relocating to Arizona or Hawaii, where the clocks remain on standard time year-round)?
“Minimize artificial light at the end of your day on the Saturday preceding the time change and seek bright light early on Sunday and Monday,” Herzog suggested. “This will encourage you to wake up earlier, facilitating your body’s synchronization with the change.”
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