WRITTEN BY LARA LEDESMA
Edited by Nam Thai What is Daylight Savings Time? Daylight savings time (DST) is the practice of setting the clock forward by one hour during the spring and setting it back again during the fall. People often use the expression “spring forward and fall back.” DST begins on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 2:00 am. We set our clocks forward 1 hour to “spring forward”; therefore, darker mornings and brighter evenings that last longer. DST ends on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 2:00 am. On Saturday night, clocks will set back 1 hour to “fall back,” implying that it will be lighter in the morning. The main reason Daylight Savings Time was created was to create a way to save energy and make better use of natural daylight. What are the benefits of Daylight Savings Time? Daylight Savings Time(DST) can promote a healthy lifestyle. People participate in outdoor activities such as jogging, walking dogs, and playing outside. DST also promotes safety. Research has shown that crime rates after DST fall an average of 7 percent, with a 27 percent drop during spring forward. Not only that, but DST minimizes our energy consumption which lowers energy bills. What are the adverse effects of Daylight Savings Time? The main effect of Daylight Savings Time is losing an hour of sleep, making teens more vulnerable to this change. Even though the difference is only an hour, changing our sleep patterns goes against our natural circadian rhythms. The circadian rhythm is the natural and internal process that helps regulate our sleep patterns. This can cause sleep deprivation, leading to other adverse effects such as difficulty waking up in the morning, trouble concentrating, and even depression. Teenagers are particularly more susceptible to the impact of DST because their bodies are still developing, and their sleep patterns are more sensitive to disruptions. A disrupted sleeping schedule can make us unproductive during the day. For teens, this means poor performance at school and in extracurricular activities. While there are certainly benefits to Daylight Savings Time, it is essential to carefully consider the adverse effects it has, specifically for teenagers who are vulnerable to its effects. Finding and fixing a balance between the benefits and the drawbacks of Daylight Savings Time would be beneficial to promoting the health and well-being of our society. Comments are closed.
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AuthorDana Barbee Archives
May 2023
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