Daylight Savings: Spring Forward, Fall Back
It is really common for people to hate the concept of daylight savings time; but do people actually hate it, or is it the corresponding fatigue that comes with the nationwide time change that bothers them?
In the United States, in March, daylight savings time advances the clocks by one hour, to preserve sunlight in the upcoming summer months. Consequently, in November the clocks readjust to standard time, where the sun rises at around 7 a.m., resulting in darkness beginning at around 4 p.m. The time springs forward in the spring, and falls back to normal in the fall. On March 9, 2025 the time advanced to daylight savings time at 2 a.m. and will not resort back to standard time until November 2, 2025.
In March, 2022, the U.S. Senate deliberated with a bill deemed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight savings time permanent. There was a great deal of agreement on this change which would ensure longer-lasting days; however, the act fell through because the House of Representatives refused to pass it. There are chances the bill could resurface in the future, meaning that the permanence of daylight savings time is still possible.
The hatred towards daylight savings is fueled by confusion on the concept. If daylight savings time was terminated, this would simultaneously put an end to longer days. The switch from standard to daylight savings time pushes back both the sunrise and sunset, and is correlated with a downturn in rates of seasonal depression, among other issues associated with mental, and even physical health. The widespread hatred of the biannual clock changes is linked to the drowsiness associated with adjusting to these time changes, but many people tend to prefer the longer days brought by daylight savings time.
