Daylight Saving Time Ends November 1, 2020

On the night of November 1st, most of the United States will move our clocks back one hour. This bi-annual ritual, moving the clocks up one hour in the Spring and falling back an hour in the Autumn, has started to fall out of favor. The idea behind Daylight Saving Time was to create more daylight at the end of the day during the summer months. In modern life, the repercussions of this time shift twice a year are being questioned. Approaching the 2020 election cycle, 32 states are considering permanently changing to Daylight Saving Time and ditching the bi-annual clock change.

Besides the bother of adjusting all your clocks and potentially being late to an appointment, what impact does changing the clocks have on us?

Researchers (Zhang et al., 2020) have linked elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attacks), mental health disorders, injuries, and diseases related to the immune system (infections) when the clocks are changed because of Daylight Saving Time. It is obvious that the clock shift disrupts our social and work schedules, but it is also believed to impact our internal or biological clock. It was initially believed that this clock change had the most negative impact in the Spring when we lose an hour of sleep. However, it is suspected that the interruption of our internal clock is what is harmful.

Besides contacting your elected officials to permanently switch to Daylight Saving Time, you can use good sleep hygiene, get outside in the sunshine, eat well and exercise regularly to lessen the impact of the clock change. These steps keep you and your immune system healthy. Want more ways to stay healthy, contact me today for your free 15-minute consult.

Kate Bender is a dual-certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Adult Nurse Practitioner. She knows, firsthand, life is messy and hard. Sometimes people need support and help from a professional. When working with Kate, your mental health will be compassionately addressed in a manner that honors your mind, body, and spirit. She lives with her family on the shoreline in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.