Do you find yourself wondering how and why the spring and fall time changes were established? Many sources credit Benjamin Franklin as being the first to suggest seasonal time change. This idea was voiced by the American inventor and politician in 1784, but it did not involve actually turning the clocks forward or back. Franklin jokingly suggested in a letter to the editor of the Journal of Paris that "Parisians could economize candle usage by getting people out of bed earlier in the morning."
On July 1, 1908, the residents of Port Arthur, Ontario, turned their clocks forward by one hour to start the world's first Daylight Saving Time period. Germany and Austria started using Daylight Saving Time in 1916. In the United States, the clock-changing practice began just over 100 years ago, in 1918. Back then, coal was our top energy source and it made sense that Daylight Saving Time helped Americans have more daylight working hours. Seasonal time changes are now used in over 70 countries worldwide and affect over 1 billion people every year. The beginning and end dates vary from one country to another.
The practice of changing our clocks has been shown to have significant drawbacks. Scientists who study our body's biological timing have found that when the body is subjected to the time changes in the spring and fall, a condition called "social jet lag" could result. This is when the body clock doesn't match the social clock, and a person might find themselves out of sync with the new local time. The risk of heart attack increases 10% in the days following springing forward, most likely caused by sleep deprivation and the interruption of biological rhythms. Studies also indicate we are more likely to get sick, we are less productive, and frankly, we are just exhausted directly following the time change. Although the argument in favor of Daylight Saving Time means having more light in the evening, the number of hours of light in a day does not change. More evening light means less morning light, and it is the light in the morning that is most important in resetting our biological clocks. Changing the clocks does not create extra daylight, but it does shift the "time" for us when the sun rises and sets. This change can cause disruptions to our body clock, otherwise known as the circadian rhythm.
All the processes happening in our bodies are coordinated by our biological clocks, located in our brains and all other organs. If we spent our time outdoors getting plenty of natural light and could choose when to get up and go to sleep as our ancestors did, our internal clocks would be set by the sun so that we would tend to wake up at dawn, and then, depending on the time of year, stay awake for a while in the evening after dark. Our body clocks would be in sync with the sun clock. The problem is that we live in societies that force us to get up and go to work or school at times that we don't get to choose.
Since it seems that "springing forward" and "falling back" will continue for now, how can a person learn to cope with these changes with minimal effects on the body? In the fall, changing back to Standard Time has its challenges as well -- one of those being depression. Several ideas can help make the change less stressful.
Bring more light into your home. Invest in a light box or place more lamps throughout the house. Make sure to turn them on when you get home.
Go for a walk. Sunlight helps to adjust your body clock. Walk first thing in the morning to take advantage of morning light.
Plan a winter vacation somewhere nice and sunny.
Put a timer on your bedside lamp to turn on half an hour before you wake up. Waking up to bright light is better than waking up to dark surroundings.
Don't rely on carbohydrates for an extra energy boost. The advantage is short-lived.
Keep your social life going. Don't oversleep or stay in bed. Depriving yourself of morning light won't help.
If you are feeling the effects from the disruption of your circadian rhythm, don't despair! Studies find that these problems pass quickly during the days following a time change. For most people, the resulting tiredness is simply an inconvenience. Being aware that this is normal will help one cope. Keeping active and eating right are also keys in getting things back to normal.
4-H information
There are several 4-H clubs for Garland County youths who are 5 to 19 years old. For more information on all the fun 4-H activities that are available, call Linda Bates at the Extension Office on 623-6841 or email her at [email protected].
Master Gardener information
Master Gardener meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Elks Lodge. They're open to the public and guests are welcome. For more information, call the Extension Service office at 623-6841 or email Alex Dykes at [email protected].
EHC information
Are you interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information on EHC, call Alison Crane on 623-684 or email her at [email protected].
Society on 11/11/2019