Beginning in 1918, the Daylight Savings system was originally created during World War I to maximize daylight for working and conserve energy. From mid-March to early November, we set our clocks forward one hour, entering into “summer time.” This ensures that darkness comes later in the evening as opposed to winter time’s early sunsets. Following these eight months of summertime, the clocks return to standard time. Although these one-hour shifts seem minuscule, they actually have a prodigious impact on our lives.

For instance, when wintertime begins, many people report feeling unmotivated and dreary because of the earlier dusk. This is commonly referred to as “seasonal depression” or seasonal affective disorder. It occurs frequently in younger adults, and the severity can range from slightly unmotivated feelings to extreme loss of interest or violent behavior. This may be present, especially in climates with drastic seasonal differences between summer and winter. However, the immense drawbacks of Daylight Savings far outweigh those of standard time.

In response to the Daylight Savings Controversy, Senator Marco Rubio created the Sunshine Protection Act, which proposes a permanent Daylight Savings time. So far, the act is still in progress. However, this is an unwise decision because of the negative consequences of Daylight Savings, including both health and social issues.

The transition to summertime begins when we “spring forward” our clocks. This results in a one-hour loss of sleep and darker mornings. Many people look forward to summertime because it reminds them of the memories they will be able to make in the summer during the longer daylight hours. However, this change puts immense stress on the body. It not only saves much less energy than people think but also interrupts the body’s internal clock.

In fact, according to Dr. Lam, a researcher at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, this “misalignment between the ‘sun clock’ and our ‘brain clock’” creates an effect similar to jet lag. This explains why it is far more difficult to get up on these darker mornings, especially for teenagers who already have a delayed bodily rhythm. Yuna Shin, a junior at Yorba Linda High School, says she enjoys “fall back,” but “spring forward definitely is a struggle.”

Our health is notably improved when our biological clock is closer to the actual sunrise. So, permanent Daylight Savings suggested in the Sunshine Protection Act would further harm our health. In fact, during the winter, it would worsen sleep loss because our body clocks tend to be later as compared to the summer. This proposed permanent change is characterized by increased metabolic disorders as well as heart disease and stroke.

Additionally, Kenneth Wright, a sleep and circadian expert at the University of Colorado Boulder, explains that Daylight Savings simply alters “how we live relative to the sun” without actually offering longer daylight hours or conserving energy. These factors lead to unintended consequences, like an increase in heart attacks and fatal car accidents. This demonstrates the flaws of a permanent Daylight Savings time. Joseph Kim, a junior at Cypress High School, notes that “[Daylight Saving] is a bit antiquated,” but he would be “fine with either getting rid of or keeping [it].”

Although the future of Daylight Savings seems unclear, it is a rising problem that needs a solution. It not only inhibits many lives but also causes much distress.

Kaylyn Kim

Sunny Hills High School / 11th Grade

<Kaylyn Kim>