Daylight Saving Time: 5 fun facts

Do we really need to move our clocks back or forward an hour twice a year? On Sunday, the sun will set about an hour later – at 7 p.m. “Anytime you rob yourself of good sleep, there are health effects that are measurable because your body is not adjusted well”. The Germans began using it in May 1916, with the goal of conserving fuel during World War I. The rest of Europe followed suit soon after, and the United States officially adopted daylight saving time in 1918. “One of the biggest problems in North America, when we look at issues around sleep, is just not getting enough sleep overall”. At Baylor Scott & White Sleep Institute, doctors and sleep physicians help patients with a series of sleep disorders.

Experts say the best way to avoid crashes is to not to hit the road if you’re exhausted. Luckily your phones, computers and auto will likely change the time for you, but just in case you have any wall clocks or other non-wifi timekeepers, it’s probably a good thing to keep in mind!

“The case for energy is a lot weaker”, said Schrager.

Avoid long naps: Sneaking in a little nap may be inevitable for some, but WebMD recommends taking a nap in the afternoon, not close to bedtime.

Benjamin Franklin, the American inventor and politician, first suggested the idea as a way of people not using so many candles by missing the early morning light. About two-thirds of the days during the year now operate on Daylight Saving Time.

Losing that hour of sleep may not seem like a big deal, but doctors say many of us really do have a hard time adjusting.

Although children take about three weeks to get used to the change, doctors say most adults are back to their normal routines within the first week.

If you are one of those people, Dr. Boethel has some advice, “Try to go to bed at a decent hour for people who are night owls”.