Fall Back for Daylight Saving Time: Time Change
It’s almost that time of year…when you “fall back” to standard time by setting your clocks back one hour. Daylight saving time (DST), and why we do it, is quite interesting. If you’re one of those that need your sleep, or have young kids on a schedule, you’re likely dreading this time change. Here are some answers to what it is, why we do it and some tips for adjusting to the change.
What is daylight saving time?
Well, it’s in the name – daylight saving. It’s a period of about eight months where the clocks are adjusted to allow for more daylight. In the spring, DST is implemented by changing your clocks forward by one hour (spring forward) and in the fall, we go back to standard time by changing the clocks back by one hour (fall back).
Why do we change our clocks for daylight saving time?
Some say daylight saving time was created to give an extra hour of daylight to allow farmers and industrial workers to be more productive, but this is a myth. Most sources say daylight saving time was created to save energy. If there’s more daylight hours, you’re less likely to be inside using the energy from lights, electronics, etc. We can’t tell the sun when to rise and set, but we can adjust our clocks to better serve us, right?
Tips for adjusting out of daylight saving time
Regardless of why it started, people can have a difficult time for the first few days following a time change, similar to jet lag when traveling across time zones. Your internal clock should adjust after a week or so, but when you’re already behind on sleep (hello, busy people!), a week of yawns and a zombie-like state just won’t cut it. Here’s some tips to adjusting to falling back from daylight saving time.
Get extra sleep
It sounds obvious but getting extra sleep a few days before the time change will help you adjust. For little ones, you may want to start putting them to bed 15 minutes earlier about a week before the time change. Gradually increasing this each night will have them adjusted before the big swap.
Be consistent with healthy bedtime habits
What you do in the day can greatly affect your sleep at night. Get consistent exercise, don’t drink caffeine late in the afternoon and stay off your phone and other electronics at least an hour before bedtime. All of these are healthy habits to help you fall asleep and stay asleep, regardless of the time change.
Consider your routine
Once daylight saving time ends, it will get dark earlier. You may find yourself doing your normal routine, such as walking your dog or your evening jog, in the dark. Consider how this affects your routine and gather any reflective gear you may need to stay safe.
Interesting facts about daylight saving time
1. There’s no “s” in savings. You’ll hear people call it daylight savings time, but it’s actually daylight saving time.
2. The world’s first DST period was in Thunder Bay, Canada in 1908. Germany and Austria followed suit less than a decade later.
3. While DST was initially introduced in the US during WWI as a way to conserve fuel, it didn’t become standard practice until 1966 after the Uniform Time Act was passed.
4. As of 2022, there are more than 70 countries who participate in the DST period, and it affects more than one billion people.
5. The Sunshine Protection Act passed the Senate through a unanimous consent. There was no formal vote and no senator objected to the passage. The companion bill in the House of Representatives never made it out of committee. Therefore, the act never became a law.
PRO TIP: Use daylight saving time as an opportunity to keep your home safe, too! When you’re changing your clocks in the spring and fall, also use this time to put fresh batteries in your smoke detectors and other safety devices. Getting into the habit of this is a great way to be a responsible homeowner!