The debate over daylight saving time is back in the national spotlight, with a law awaiting Senate approval to eliminate the twice-yearly clock change, making daylight saving time permanent.
The idea is not without precedent. The U.S. tried year-round daylight saving time during the 1973-74 energy crisis in an effort to conserve fuel. But, the experiment was short-lived, as public opinion quickly turned against it after dark winter mornings led to safety concerns, particularly for children traveling to school.
Many people have strong opinions on the topic based on convenience and other factors, but research suggests the timing of daylight can have a real impact on sleep, mood and overall health. Here are some of those things to consider on the health front:
Current System: Switching Twice a Year
Our current system alternates between standard time in the winter and daylight saving time in the summer.
Pros:
- It provides lighter summer evenings with more potential for outdoor recreation and activity
- Returning to standard time in the winter better aligns our natural biological clocks
Cons:
- Interrupts our natural sleep cycle, or circadian rhythm, which can lead to cluster headaches or migraines for some people
- “Losing” an hour of sleep each spring has been linked to temporary increases in heart attacks, strokes, workplace injuries and motor vehicle crashes.
- Shorter days and darker evenings can cause dips in serotonin and melatonin levels, the brain chemicals that regulate mood and sleep -- leaving some people feeling foggier, more irritable, or less motivated.
Proposed: Permanent Daylight Saving Time
The House of Representatives just voted overwhelmingly to pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make the shift to daylight saving time permanent, and the Senate is next.
Pros:
- Eliminate the hassle of changing the clocks while preserving extra evening daylight.
- More daylight after work could encourage exercise, outdoor recreation and spending time with family.
Cons:
- Much darker winter mornings. (In many parts of the country, sunrise wouldn't occur until after 8 a.m. and some almost until 9:30 a.m.) Locally, sunrise would be right around 8 a.m.
- Potential traffic and safety hazards with morning commutes -- children and buses heading to school and adults on the roads before daylight. In the Baton Rouge area, most schools’ first bells would ring well before sunrise:
-
Ascension Schools - middle/high school start time – 7:25am
-
EBR Schools - About half of middle/high schools start time -- 7:10 a.m. (there’s a range of start times because of the district’s realignment plan)
-
Livingston – over 70% of schools start time – before 8 a.m.
-
Permanent Standard Time
As the legal discussions continue, there are calls to move instead to permanent standard time. Many sleep physicians and circadian rhythm experts support this option because it aligns most closely with the sun. With this time, people would wake up closer to sunrise, helping to regulate the sleep-wake cycle.
Pros:
- Earlier sunrise helps improve alertness, supports better sleep and more consistent schedules at night
- Better circadian rhythm may reduce the long-term risk of obesity, depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Cons:
- Earlier sunsets, particularly during the summer months.
There may never be a solution everyone agrees on, but the science increasingly points toward one conclusion: our bodies function best when our schedules align with natural daylight. Whether the clocks continue changing or one system is adopted permanently, prioritizing consistent sleep and getting exposure to morning sunlight remain some of the best ways to protect your health.