It’s About Time: How Clock Setting Affects Us

This year, we changed the clocks back to Daylight Savings Time on March 13th. But remember a few years back, when Daylight Savings Time returned not in March, but rather in April? This means that the so-called winter time lasted five months of the year instead of six, translating into more daylight hours for seven months of the year than the other five months. In any case, why does any of this matter? How does a seasonal clock change, or any other time change, affect us?

1. Sunlight versus Darkness – The amount of sunshine we get affects our health and our moods. One reason: Melatonin. This natural hormone is sometimes called the “Dracula of hormones” because it induces a feeling of sleepiness with the onset of darkness. Conversely, melatonin release is inhibited by light – whether sunlight or artificial. All told, too much or too little melatonin can be unhealthy.

2. Routine – Sometimes we feel a bit jetlagged for a few days after a time change. Some people are more sensitive than others. For example, parents of young children often bemoan the thorn thrown into their bedtime ritual. But even adults can feel “off” for a while after a time change.

3. Sleep Time – The number of hours of sleep you get is important, even if it varies per individual. Some adults are fine on a wee four hours a night, and others need a full nine hours, with most falling somewhere in between. Babies and children tend to need 10-12 hours per night. When we change the clocks, we might not get the necessary number of hours of sleep, and if we do, it might not be the same quality, simply because our sleep pattern is altered temporarily. The sleep routine change can affect our daytime energy levels and ability to focus.

4. Scheduling Outdoor Activities – Prefer an outdoor wedding? Want to have a barbeque? At what hour does your municipality turn on street lights, or schedule school soccer matches? Light affects our planning – in fact, we rely so heavily on lighting for nighttime activities that we rarely hold an event in the dark. The amount of sunshine, therefore, affects our logistics – no small matter.

Some people are so affected by seasonal sunlight, or lack thereof, that they are diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Fittingly, its abbreviation is SAD – the lack of sunshine affects some people so much that they have similar symptoms to depression.  Speaking generally though, most people feel the change of more sunshine hours without any extreme reactions .

Hopefully, the extra sunshine we get seven months of the year will work positively for us in terms of more energy and easier logistics planning. By the same token, if more sunshine prevents you from getting your required hours of sleep, don’t let it be an excuse – invest in a thick black curtain to trigger melatonin release, and get some shuteye.

Good morning, and good night!