No, not menopause. The time change that comes with daylight savings time. I know I'm a little late talking about this, but here it is 5 days after "falling back" and I'm still feeling the effects of it. I've noticed in the past three years or so that this simple one hour change in time has a real effect me. It's not quite so bad in the fall as it is the spring, but it definitely takes a few days to adjust. I don't ever remember this being a problem when I was younger. Of course I lived in AZ from 1987-2001 and didn't have to worry about this for those years. AZ is one of the few states that doesn't participate in daylight savings time. As much as I didn't love living in AZ, that is one thing that I did appreciate about living in the desert. No need to save daylight in a place with daily summer temperatures over 110 degrees.
Earlier this week I read an interesting opinion piece written by William F. Shughart II about daylight savings time that discusses the effect of this time change on the hypothalamus, which regulates our circadian rhythms (our "clock"). According to Shughart, the hypothalamus has to struggle to "adjust the body's internal physical, chemical, electrical, hormonal and immunological environments to the new conditions". Most of us just feel groggy for a few days, but apparently this can actually lead to heart attacks in some people. WHAT?! Up until now, I've just been annoyed by this silly time change. But now knowing that this can actually effect people in real and serious ways, I think maybe it's more than just an annoyance. When I was younger I felt no effects, now I feel groggy. Will I have a heart attack 10 years from now? Who knows? And since it's been proven that there are no energy-conservation advantages to daylight savings time (the reason it was started in the first place), I think it's time to seriously consider eliminating it. What do you all think? Did any of you have trouble adjusting? Do any of you know of a reason why we should keep daylight savings time? I'd love to hear from you.
Image from Google Images
Posts
15 comments:
I sure do like sending the kids to school in the light - it was awfully dark before the change...
That's about it, though. We all feel like we're ready to go to bed at 7:30...
I actually like the fall change - so much easier to get up in the morning to get the kids off to school. But it takes me weeks to adjust to the spring change! I'm always exhausted that week, no matter how early I try to go to sleep.
My kids don't like the fall change because it's suddenly dark at 5 pm - no more evening soccer practice or playing outside late.
Sue
Eh. I could live w.o it but it's part of the routine. I agree, though, I am exhausted much earlier, and my daughter is all out of whack! Waking up crazy early is NOT fun!
I have big issues with the spring one, but the fall one I actually quite enjoy - that being said I would still vote to just leave it alone I don't see the point....
It seems ridiculous to change back and forth. I know when my kids were very small, it was a nuisance and a half.
I am usually a night owl, but by 8 I feel like it's midnight. I hate this daylight savings time thing. I don't think it's ever affected me as much as this year. Maybe it's just me getting older. The only good thing about it is that I remember to replace the batteries in the smoke detectors.
I feel that because of daylight savings time nobody knows what time it actually is anymore and it's funny now that I'm older it is harder for me to adjust as well, It took my circadian rhythm two days to recover. We should figure out the correct time and leave it that way forever. No need to have the sun rise and set at certain times because of the seasons.
Though my gut response is--get rid of it! It is kinda nice to get to sleep in an extra hour in the fall, and nice to have an extra hour of sun in the spring. I might actually miss it...not that they will get rid of it any time soon!
Found you through SITS!
Seems the time change takes up 8 months out of the year. What is the point of "regular" time?
Spring ahead, I hate. Fall back, I'm so glad to be on time.
I don't mind the fall change. I like to go to bed early and get up early so it works for me. Although I do hate it being dark at 4 p.m. when that comes. But the spring is another story. I have trouble adjusting to that. I wouldn't mind if they did away with DST entirely, seems outdated now.
Any feelings i had about the usefulness of daylight savings time died when we got to Cairo. Our clocks fell back in August to make life easier for people during Ramadan. Hrrmmmmm
I miss living in AZ too...where it was never an issue...except having to remember if you are on pacific or mountain time....Happy SITS day!
I have a feeling it will eventually be eliminated altogether. Adding an extra couple of weeks to it has, I think, proven how unnecessary it is to be changing times twice a year.
I used to never care, and now I have a hard time with it.
I would like it eliminated! It really bothers me and with a little guy (my grandson), his routine is messed up. He still is having a hard time and so am I!
It always takes me forever to get used to the new time.
Post a Comment