As Clocks ‘Fall Back,’ Many Question the Need for Time Changes

By Addison Brewer-Hay

The timing shift, also known as “Fall back” began Nov. 3 and will last until “spring forward” in March. Now, it will get darker quicker and people can expect an extra hour of sleep in the morning.

These time adjustments have raised challenges for many as individuals try to adapt their sleeping schedules. Others struggling with seasonal affective disorders can be further thrown off by the adjustments as well.

Some health groups, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have begun to further question the necessity of daylight saving times. They argue that not only does time change throw off human biology, but the United States is one of the only countries that engage in the practice.

Not to mention, Hawaii and Arizona have already stopped daylight savings and remain on standard time.

As many struggle with their adjustments, the brain’s master clock can pose challenges. The circadian rhythm is a natural 24-hour cycle that regulates our levels of sleepiness and alertness throughout the day. Now that light disappears faster, many are expected to experience a difficult shift in their sleeping patterns.

The circadian clock impacts more than just sleep too, raising awareness to heart related problems, stress hormones, and metabolism.

According to Boston.com, about one in three U.S. adults sleep less than the recommended seven plus hours nightly. While the clocks change, work and school hours do not – which can further hinder sleep, the website emphasizes.

While time shifts continue, many wonder whether or not the U.S. will decide to end the ongoing adjustments due to inconsistency and health issues. A bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act, aimed to make daylight saving time permanent but is now stalled. Health experts however argue this act is backwards, and that standard time should be enforced nationwide.