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A Brief History of Daylight Savings Time

31 Thursday Oct 2019

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Wasn’t the first day of spring only yesterday? It seems like the snow was starting to melt, the trees were beginning to blossom, and we were springing ahead. Yes, we may have been losing an hour of sleep, but we were gaining an hour of natural sunlight. Sadly, this Sunday at 2 am, DST will come to an end. It’s around this time that people always seem to ask, “how did Daylight Savings Time come to be, and is it still necessary in today’s world?”

You may be surprised to learn that Daylight Savings Time has been around for over 100 years but was also seen in ancient history. Many believed that ancient civilizations also adjusted their daily routines to match the sun’s schedule.

Benjamin Franklin is often cited as the inventor behind daylight savings. He first proposed the idea in his 1784 essay titled “An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light.” Unfortunately, he never saw his theory put into practice.

On April 30, 1916, Germany was the first country to implement Daylight Savings Time, in an attempt to save fuel by reducing the amount of artificial lighting during World War I. Several other countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and France followed suit but reverted immediately after the war. 

Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted yearlong Daylight Savings Time in 1942. Time zones were called “War Times.” There was no federal law regarding DST, so states and municipalities were able to choose whether or not to observe the time change. Understandably, this caused much confusion, especially for certain industries, including broadcasting and transportation.

By the year 1966, an estimated 100 million Americans were observing Daylight Savings Time based on their local laws. Congress decided to end the confusion and establish one pattern across the country. 

The practice of Daylight Savings Time has caused a lot of controversy since its creation. In a 2014 survey, only 33% of Americans see a point behind DST, which begs the question, “Why do we still follow this practice?”

Advocates say:

  • Springing ahead creates longer evenings, thereby motivating people to get out of the house and participating in other activities such as participating in outdoor recreation or supporting local businesses.
  • Daylight Savings Time ensures that people’s active hours coincide with daylight hours, so less artificial light is necessary.
  • Changing the time has also been shown to increase road safety by reducing pedestrian fatalities during the dawn and dusk hours.

  

Still, many of us believe that Daylight Savings Time is no longer necessary as we now have several new electronics that stay plugged in all day. The time change can also have a severe impact on our health by increasing the likelihood of fatigue and depression. Unfortunately, it looks like until someone comes up with another way to work around the sun’s changing patterns, we will likely have to deal with changing our clocks twice a year. 

How do you feel about Daylight Savings Time? If given a choice, would you do away with the practice? Let us know in the comments below.

Here at Lions Pride, we may not be looking forward to darker days, but it will be nice to get an extra hour of sleep. Don’t forget to find a little joy in the time change!

Sleeping Tips for Surviving DST

07 Thursday Mar 2019

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Didn’t it seem like only yesterday that we were setting our clocks back and excited for an extra hour of sleep? It may be hard to believe, but Sunday marks the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST.)

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Understandably, most of us do not look forward to the end of Daylight Savings, like we do at the beginning. According to sleep.org, the average person sleeps 40 minutes less on the night following Daylight Saving Time then they would on a typical night. Many people feel adjusted to the change by Wednesday, but other unlucky individuals may struggle for weeks.

Anyone who has experienced a rough night of sleep will likely tell you that it can have several negative impacts on the following day. To prepare for Daylight Savings, now is the perfect time to audit your regular nighttime routine. Keep these following tips in mind as you plan to spring ahead:

  • Gradually transition into the time change

Ideally, you would already be going to bed a little earlier than usual. If not, it’s not too late to get started. For the next couple of nights, make an effort to go to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier. If you are well-rested before Saturday night, you will help minimize the effects of DST.

Remember that different people need different amounts of sleep. Make an effort to determine how much sleep you need.

  • Limit caffeine and alcohol intake

Alcohol and caffeine, which can be found in coffee, chocolate, tea and pain relievers, can disrupt your sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid these stimulating substances for four to six hours before bedtime.

  • Don’t schedule nighttime workouts

Moderate exercise during the day can help you sleep better at night. When done regularly, aerobic exercise can help improve your quality of sleep, but the timing is important. For some, working out too close to bedtime can hinder sleep. Rule of thumb, if you don’t often sleep well, think about exercising earlier in the day.

  • Establish a digital curfew

When using smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices at bedtime, you are unknowingly delaying your internal clock. These devices suppress the release of melatonin and make it more difficult to fall asleep. Create a digital curfew for you and your loved ones in which you all turn off electronic devices for the night. Consider setting the limit 30 minutes to 2 hours before bed. The earlier you in the evening you power down the electronics, the better.

  • Commit to a regular sleeping schedule

Finally, for the best night’s sleep, go to bed and wake up at the same time each day (yes, even weekends.) By sticking with a schedule, you can help your body regulate its sleep pattern and maximize the hours you sleep.

Here at Lions Pride, we may not exactly be excited about losing an hour of sleep, but Daylight Saving Time means that spring is right around the corner and brighter days are ahead. Don’t forget to enjoy the changing of the season!

Spring Ahead for Daylight Saving

08 Thursday Mar 2018

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The time has finally arrived; it’s the moment that we’ve all been waiting for! Okay, maybe this isn’t exactly the event we’ve been early anticipating since snow first touched the ground, but it means we’re getting closer. Daylight Saving will be starting on Sunday morning at 2 am.

DST is that special time of the year where we get out step ladders and car manuals to set the clocks one hour ahead. You probably already know that when Daylight Saving Time starts, the sun will rise and set one hour earlier than the previous day, but here a few fun facts that you may have not already heard:

While out on an early morning horseback ride in London, Willett came up with an idea that would allow more people to enjoy the sunlight. He spent much of his lifetime and personal wealth, advocating that the United Kingdom move clocks forward by 80 minutes between April and October. Sadly, he never saw his idea come to fruition.

  • Germany was the first country to observe Daylight Saving Time

On April 30, 1916, Germany embraced the idea of daylight saving to conserve energy. Weeks later, the United Kingdom followed suit and “summer hours” were born.

  • Daylight Saving Time was never supposed to benefit formers, contrary to popular belief

Many people assume that farmers were strongly in favor of Daylight Saving Time when it was just the opposite. The agriculture culture was very opposed to the time switch when it was implemented in 1918. The sun, not the clock – dictated farmers’ schedules, so Daylight Saving Time was actually quite disruptive. After the time change, farmers had to wait an extra hour for the dew to evaporate, hired hands worked an hour less and it was too early to milk the cows. Over the past few decades, stores and recreational businesses have been the true champions of DST.

Although most of us change our clocks twice a year, Daylight Saving Time is not observed by Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation,) Hawaii, Puerto Rice or the Virgin Islands. Worldwide, only approximately one quarter or 70 percent of countries observe DST.

People all across the America seem to either love or hate the observance of Daylight Saving Time. How do you feel about the time change? If given a choice, would you do away with the practice?

We may not be looking forward to less sleep, but here at Lions Pride, we are looking forward to the extra hour of sunlight. Remember, spring is right around the corner – don’t forget to enjoy the time change!