2023 RDP: Daylight Savings Time

This past Sunday, November 5th was the end of Daylight Saving Time for this year. The time is set at 2 am, so the major people try to remember to set their clocks backwards before they go to sleep at night. Most of the time I forget and just change clocks ( the oven & microwave clocks) whenever I get around to it. Smartphone and other Smart technology devices automatically change their times alleviating our need to do so.

Is Changing Clocks backwards and forwards to compensate for Daylight Saving Time beneficial? Yes or No? In 1974 President Richard M. Nixon argued that it would Save Energy when he signed into law the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act during a fuel crisis.

Other benefits to Daylight Saving Time include:

  • Longer Daylight hours Promotes Safety
  • Daylight in the Evening makes it safer for joggers
  • It’s safer for those walking their dogs after work
  • It’s safer for children playing outside
  • Greater visibility reduces criminal activity
  • Reduce the Nation’s Energy Consumption
  • It promotes active lifestyles

What are some disadvantages to Daylight Saving Time?

  • Daylight Saving Time is bad for your health
    • Changing sleep patterns has negative consequences for our health
    • Increase in headaches after fall time changes
    • Increase in auto and work place accidents the day after time changes
  • Daylight Saving Time drops productivity
    • The Monday after is one of the most sleep-deprived days of the year
    • Increased “Cyber loafing” (wasting time browsing the internet)
    • Decreased quality of life
    • Increased susceptibility to illness
    • Increase in tiredness
      • Note: Till Roenneberg, a German scientist observed that the human circadian clock does not adjust to Daylight Saving Time.

I know for a fact that my grandson’s internal clock does not adjust to Daylight Saving Time. He will wake up on the same internal “time” schedule regardless of what the actual time is. Being on DST he wakes up around 8 am give or take a few minutes. Off of DST his body tells him to wake up around 7 am. If we did not change the time on clocks, he would be waking up at the same exact time year round.

For myself, I firmly believe that I do not adjust very well to DST. I am extremely more tired in the days and weeks immediately following when time changes occur. I do not have the desire to wake up when he does, however, I must as his 24/7 caretaker. I have less energy, especially after the fall time change. It is harder for me to be motivated and productive in my surroundings. I have less energy for hiking and outdoor activities which I know are beneficial for both Coleman and myself.

RDP Tuesday word prompt is daylight savings time.

God Bless. Thank you for listening and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.