The History of Daylight Savings TimeDaylight Savings Time (DST) is the seasonal time of year whereby clocks are set ahead (of standard time) by one hour in the spring and back to regular standard time in the fall. Where and why this practice began depends on what country you are in.
Some historians say Germany and Austria were the first countries to use DST in 1916. The US has its own historic timeline (1895), and Canada’s first change was documented on July 1, 1908, when the residents of Port Arthur, Ontario (today's Thunder Bay), turned their clocks forward by one hour. Other locations in Canada soon followed suit.
The reason for messing with the standard time (back and forth) also seems to be mythical, as there is no documented research to prove the benefits that surround the reasoning. It has been said that the change allows for more daylight hours after work, as a means to save energy, or that it is helpful to farmers.
Today, the idea of springing forward and falling back is much more controversial and seems to matter more based on where you live. The further you travel from the Equator, the more pronounced the changes of seasons tends to be with respect to the sun. So, if you live more to the north, you may be more inclined to like saving daylight more than others.
Did you know that only about half of the world’s countries use DST, and in Canada, some locations do not adjust for spring, committing to “Standard Time” all year or choosing to ignore it? Like Yukon, most of Saskatchewan, some locations in Quebec, and some areas of British Columbia? Perhaps it is time to reconsider messing with standard time and allow our bodies to adjust to the natural rhythm of the changing seasons.
Can Daylight Savings Time Mess with Your Health?
There is certainly controversy about how it affects health. There is no denying that the first few days after the clocks change affect your health simply because you are altering the circadian rhythm (sleep-wake pattern) that your body has become accustomed to. The effects seem to be more pronounced in the spring when you lose an hour of sleep than with the fall change when you gain an hour.
Ultimately, any sudden change to your internal clock may cause some health issues in the immediate days following the change. Such as headaches, irritability, insomnia, daytime fatigue, and decreased immune function.
If you are already predisposed to some illnesses, such as depression, the change back to standard time can trigger bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Governments are under pressure to rethink the practice of messing with nature, but until then, prepare for change.
- Take advantage of the opportunity to get an extra hour of sleep.
- Don't stay up late in anticipation of the time change.
- If you are more likely to have trouble with the change, start taking a melatonin supplement to help restore your natural sleep cycle.
- Stay hydrated.
- Avoid caffeinated beverages since too much caffeine can further disrupt your natural sleep rhythm.
- Increase your exposure to bright light or the sun to get your daily dose of Vitamin D3, or consider supplementing with it.
- Physical activity during the day and until late afternoon/early evening will help compensate for the overall reduction of the daylight hours.
Consider increasing your intake of high-melatonin foods such as nuts ( walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and pistachios), eggs, fish, tart cherries, oats, turkey, and tomatoes.
