This year, daylight savings time ends November 2. The good news: You will get a glorious extra hour of sleep. The bad: It’ll be dark as a pocket by late afternoon for the next few months in the U.S.
Although “fall back” should be easier on your body than the beginning of daylight savings time in the spring, it still may take a while to adjust your sleep habits. Even more importantly, NYC drivers will likely spend more time working in the dark, adding risk to every shift. People with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually linked to the shorter days and less sunlight, may struggle, too.
How the Body Reacts to Light
The brain has a master clock that is set by exposure to sunlight and darkness. This circadian rhythm is a roughly 24-hour cycle that determines when we become sleepy and when we’re more alert. Morning light resets the rhythm. By evening, melatonin levels in the body begin to surge, triggering drowsiness. Too much light in the evening delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync. Your circadian clock affects more than sleep, also influencing things like heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones and metabolism.
How Do Time Changes Affect Sleep?
Even an hour change on the clock can throw off sleep schedules – which can be a problem because so many people are already sleep deprived. About one in three U.S. adults sleep less than the recommended seven-plus hours nightly. Sleep deprivation is linked to heart disease, cognitive decline, obesity and numerous other problems.
How to Prepare for the Time Change
Some people prepare for the time change by changing their bedtimes little by little in the days before it occurs. There are ways to ease the adjustment, including getting more sunshine to help reset your circadian rhythm for better sleep.
Will the U.S. Ever Get Rid of the Time Change?
Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act, proposes making daylight saving time permanent. Health experts say the lawmakers have it backward – standard time should be made permanent.
Source: PBS News
