When do the clocks go forward – and should daylight savings be scrapped?
When do the clocks go forward – and should daylight savings be scrapped?
This weekend, UK clocks will shift forward, initiating the daylight saving time period. The change occurs at 1:00 AM on Sunday, March 29, and results in an hour of lost sleep for many.
The Health Impacts of Time Changes
Research on DST’s health impact has revealed significant disruptions. Sleep and dream researcher Charlie Morley highlighted that the transition to daylight saving can wreak havoc on bodily rhythms.
“What research shows is what a massive effect on the body and mind, just one extra hour [of sleep] can have,” Mr Morley told Sky News.
Studies indicate darker mornings may trigger stress responses. A 2024 analysis by the American Heart Foundation linked the clock shift to a 24% spike in heart attacks the following day. Conversely, in autumn, when the clocks revert, the opposite effect was observed.
Origins of Daylight Saving Time
Although commonly associated with agricultural benefits, the initial purpose of DST was more about extending evening light. In the 1890s, George Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist, advocated for time adjustments to allow more daylight for his insect studies.
By 1907, British inventor William Willett proposed a radical solution: advancing clocks by 80 minutes in four stages during April and reversing the process in September. His pamphlet, “The Waste of Daylight,” emphasized the inefficiency of summer daylight usage. However, his idea wasn’t enacted during his lifetime.
Germany became the first nation to implement DST in 1916, during World War I, with the UK adopting it shortly after. The practice has since been a recurring topic in public discourse.
The Debate Over Ending DST
The decision to retain or eliminate DST has sparked ongoing discussions. In October 2023, the British Sleep Society urged the UK government to abolish the twice-yearly time adjustments, citing negative effects on circadian rhythms and sleep patterns.
According to the Pew Research Center, only about a third of global countries observe DST. US President Donald Trump expressed support for ending the practice in 2024, while his secretary of state Marco Rubio called the ritual “stupid.” The debate continues over whether the benefits of extra daylight outweigh the health and lifestyle costs.
