Don’t know about you but the return to regular time may require some nuanced adjustments at the Ranch. How’s it going for you?
The semi-annual switch has chapped my hide forever. Apart from having a personal dog in this fight (tinkering with times to Elsa’s epilepsy 12 hour medication, as well as with some diabetes patients’ medications can also be impacted), research indicates instituting a permanent Standard time would better align with humans natural day-to-night rhythms. Now I know many of you are screaming, “NO!” right now because they enjoy the extra hour in the summer, but hear me out. It’s actually harmful to the body resulting in circadian misalignment which has significant health risks (i.e. increased heart attacks, strokes, abnormal heart rhythms, sleep disruption, mood disturbances, and even suicide). Research shows Standard time makes far more sense. According to Dr. Lisa Meltzer, pediatric psychologist, of National Jewish Health, an internationally renown medical/research center, provides the following practical explanation of why returning to Standard time would be a better choice. According to Dr. Meltzer:
Switching back and forth is problematic because in the spring when we move forward an hour, we’re making our day shorter for that short period of time. And in the week after we go onto daylight saving time, there is an increase in heart attacks, motor vehicle crashes, workplace accidents, and it takes some people up to a couple of weeks to adjust to the new time. In the fall, everybody likes falling back an hour because we make our day longer by an hour, and that only takes about two or three days to adjust. So springtime is like traveling east one or two hours and the fall is like traveling west so it’s easier to make our day longer. But the reason why permanent standard time is better for our health is that our internal clocks are regulated by light and dark.
When it gets dark in the evening, that cues our body to produce melatonin, which prepares our body for sleep. So when melatonin’s released in the evening, it cools off our core body temperature and it changes other body functions to prepare us for sleep. And then in the morning, bright sunlight goes through our eyes and tells our brain to stop making melatonin and wake up. So we need light in the morning to help us wake up and get our days started. When we’re on daylight saving time, our days are longer. And what we know is with increased light in the evenings, as much as we all enjoy having those evening light hours, people go to bed later. But yet our social clocks, which are work schedules and school schedules, don’t change. So even if we go to bed later, we still have to wake up at the same time to start our day.
So ultimately on daylight saving time, people end up getting less sleep, and that’s problematic because we know that the amount of sleep we get is directly related to our physical health, our mental health, every aspect of our health and well-being. People like having light in the afternoons and that’s why permanent daylight saving time is attractive. But what people don’t realize is that in the winter, this means very dark mornings. So in November, if we were on permanent daylight saving time, the sun would not rise until between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. In January, the sun would not rise until between 8:09 and 8:21 a.m. and that means we’re all waking up and commuting in the dark. And this is really hard because again, we’re not going to sleep early enough and we’re having a hard time waking up in the morning. And so the long-term consequences of this are not good.
With the switch back to Standard time over the weekend, discussions are once again renewed as to whether we should permanently making the switch. Nineteen states have already passed legislation allowing a permanent switch to Daylight time with federal permission and/or other caveats, including Colorado. It should be noted that Arizona, Hawaii, U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands do not make the twice a year switch.
But mandating a permanent switch to Daylight Savings time would negatively affect public health, particularly in the winter when workers and students would begin their days in the dark. Safety issues (as well as the aforementioned health conditions) would result in less sleep and negatively impact overall health. While we think ‘extra hour’ in the summer is a bonus, it actually is detrimental to overall good health. If anything, a permanent switch to Standard time makes more sense. So where do you stand on this twice-a-year debacle?
We hope your week eases back into a regular routine easily. I for one wish the ‘powers to be’ would consider the serious health ramifications and return to a more natural rhythm that jibes better with our bodies. This twice a year jet lag imposed by bureaucrats just seems like a really dumb idea.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Where iss our commint Elsa an Miss Monika?? Wee thott wee did commint????
Who nose!!!
Anyway mee can meow to youss’ mee iss gettin Brekkie at THE old rite time; butt THE snax are late an THE suppurr iss earlee….BellaSita iss goin outta her tiny mind!!! Mew mew mew…..
***nose bopss*** BellaDharma an **giggellss** BellaSita Mum
It’s here. Sometimes it takes a few moments to show up. Not sure why but this morning Internet traffic seems slow, at least on my end. Sorry.
Mew mew mew Miss Monika wee did a commint on Monday…it dissappeered from heer. Wee are findin other Bloggiess who are missin commintss from us ***sighss*** WerdPress iss WHACKED!
Hmm…that’s no bueno. So frustrating. 😞
Ah, the 70s permanent DST tryouts! I’d forgotten all about them, mostly because so much other 💩 has gone on in my life since then. I agree with you wholeheartedly – we need permanent standard time – for all the reasons you listed plus one more: it’s just a royal pain in the arse to have to change the analog clocks in the house! And the older cars. Unfortunately unlike in the 70s when most of the members of Congress were willing to cross party lines and compromise to get things done, we now have a bunch of selfish, narcissistic a$$holes who would rather spend their days viewing porn on their computers than actually sit down together and work for the people.
You’re so right. It takes forever changing the clocks. I sat in my car yesterday for a good 20 minutes to figure out where the clock button is in all the tech features before I was able to push one button to correct it (seeing the wrong time in the car drives me bonkers). Good grief…talk about a waste of time. I even had to get the owner’s manual out and was surprised there isn’t a ‘clock’ listing in the index. WTH?
Don’t get me started on the current inhabitants of Congress. The current crop ranks right up there with smelly mold and they follow its characteristics down to a science!
I am with you on a) not switching and b) staying with Standard time, Those of us old enough to have ot pay attention to clocks in the mid-70s might remember that we tried permanent DST. It was repealed after one winter. We also did the epilepsy medicine dance with our dog. It wasn’t so much a problem with the medicine, but rather that she knew it was time for her pill. She would come and get my wife and take her to the counter.
Yeah, that 1970’s experiment was a disaster. When you have a epi-dog, it’s a cluster trying to ease into the magic hour for pill dispensing and avoiding setting off a seizure. But I’d hate DST even beyond the epilepsy thing. It’s truly foolhardy to think DST makes any sense. Your dog is very clever. 😊 I get the incessant nose nudging under my elbow and if that’s ignored, a stern bark. LOL
P.S. Thanks for the follow. We 💜 visitors.
I know that nudge. Our dog is gone now, but we can’t forget her antics.
💜
We agree 200%!!
Here’s another comment you guys left that WP sent to the spam folder that Mom just found. Sorry. Glad you guys agree.
Your fur-iend,
Elsa 🐾
Lulu: “Our Dada is pretty sure the whole time change thing is a conspiracy by the coffee cartels to sell more product …”
Definitely a conspiracy to sell something. Like too much these days, it’s all about the greenbacks.
We don’t have a super set schedule, so wake up, bedtime, and meals vary up to an hour or more many times a week, so it isn’t a big deal. The whole idea of switching time is still stupid and we don’t like the extra summer hour anyway, so pick a time and stick with it. The switching serves no purpose.
We couldn’t agree more. It’s folly to think there’s some benefit to steal time once a year and then giving back that illusionary hour of time later.
Interesting info on the effect on the body – especially sleep – with time change. In my case, it matters not what time it is, my sleep time ENDS when my cat Teddy says it does every morning like clockwork! LOL
Hugs, Pam
You can’t fool pets and it seems dumb to try.
We too would prefer standard time year round. The way it USED to be pre WWII…I grew up in a clock maker/watchmaker’s house…it was fun(not) to get all of the clocks coordinated!! I have a lot here, too…some from my parents home…
The dogs wonder every spring why we are getting up so early…and now they think we are mean, to be so late with their food bowls. Sigh…
Oh jeez…can’t imagine having to change all the clocks in your childhood home. And here I thought my hour or so on Sunday morning was bad. Yikes! The whole thing is ridiculous and with all the real problems in this world, seems absurd to think we can manipulate time to our advantage. 🙄
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Just before I read this I was wishing we could just stay on standard time all the time and stop this switching back and forth. It’s about 7:48 pm here and my body is telling me to start getting ready for sleep. (We usually go to bed at 9) So I’m trying to keep my eyes open and type. The dogs are upset about getting their breakfasts and suppers “late”, too. They’re also ready to go to bed now. Chia’s in here laying in the bed next to me. (Xena’s in the kitchen cause Jeff’s making his breakfast and lunch for work tomorrow, LOL) Well, think I’ll go and catch some z’s now. Hope you adjust soon, too.
I know exactly what you mean. The adjustment takes a while and apart from it being a hassle to give Elsa her meds timely, it really plays havoc with my sleeping schedule. I already have terrible insomnia and the switch makes it worse, and twice a year! Argh.
Yeah, me no likey these clock adjustments. The hour I get goes right back when my sleep pattern gets all outta whack.
It was the same around the Ranch. It’s maddening!
It takes me a few days to get down with the new time. Ugh.
It’s like jet lag without dealing with TSA or going to a place you really wanted to visit.
Right!
nice ! good read .
stay awesome and keep blogging
http://www.pomeranianpuppies.uk
Thank you and thanks for swinging by the “Ranch.” We 💙 visitors.
I have to go slightly against the general feeling and truthfully say that I am not too bothered by it. Probably because I grew up with it in Scotland. However, that aside I do agree that it is a system that has outlived its usefulness, and we should revert to a standard time. I finally learned how to adjust the microwave clock and if it is 3pm in the car it’s 4pm outside. I can live with that. At least the car clock it on time for half of the year..
You’re lucky. It disrupts my sleep patterns for a couple of weeks-no wonder I have such pronounced insomnia. And it plays havoc getting the meds administered timely for the Ninja. Poor thing, I’m always worried it’ll trigger an epileptic attack.
It does seem needless, I do like the extra hour though. 🙂 XO
Understandable but it robs you of sleep. Hard to wind down as your body was designed to do with one’s body rhythm with that extra hour looming large every day. 🙃
I remember in the 70s during the oil embargo, the US was kept to daylight savings time and that meant we caught the school bus in the dark. It was icy and dangerous for kids to be on the street that winter. While I love the late summer twilights, if I had to choose, I’d vote for standard year round. I hate the spring time change… takes me weeks to adjust!
Me too. I don’t need daylight to last until 9-10 pm every night depending on your longitude. It’s especially harder as I get older. This ole body doesn’t function like a spring chicken!
I hear ya! 😉
I gave Mom the 4am stare-down yesterday. She was sleeping like she had nothing to do! Rude.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Poor Moms and poor dogs-it’s a custom that must go away. Returning to regular time is bad enough but the one next March is a real buzz kill trying to adjust everyone’s internal clocks.
hey
cool blog 🙂 will give it a follow and a like !
Thanks for swinging by the “Ranch;” we 💜 visitors.
I used to loathe it when in Europe…I felt ‘put out’ for a week or so following the change. Thank goodness we don’thave that problem here in Costa Rica.
With all the time zones in the world, adding an additional layer of nonsense is just wrong. Consider yourself lucky. I hope people start to fuss more so it gets axed and buried.
LOL that cartoon at the top was funny. I am trying to get Daisy to start barking for breakfast and dinner a little later. We’ll see how that goes. I believe you are right. Changing the times around have no benefit and is unhealthy. It is an old tradition that started long ago and they had their reasons back then, but they no longer apply, and it may not even have been smart back then.
DST was created during WWI when it was instituted in order to maximize energy production of weapons. It’s outlived its usefulness, if it had any to begin with. Good luck getting Miss Daisy transferred over to a new food schedule. Knowing the current Congress, we’ll end up having to ‘spring forward’ next March. 😳
Twiggy hasn’t quite adjusted but is splitting the difference at a half hour early get up.
I have to do a graduated schedule to keep Elsa’s Phenobarb levels up. Such a nuisance and because she’s so regimented to doing things in a routine, it messes with her brain. A messed with Poodle is not a pretty sight. Here’s hoping Twiggy adjusts quickly.
Thank you, Monika.
I’m totally with you on this Monika, it is so unnatural to switch back and forth and it affects the medication times for so many pets and humans too. Here’s wishing for a return to Standard Time! 🙏
You’ll get no arguments from me on that. It’s just such a unnecessary pain in the tuckus!
Yup. Standard Time is the way to go! Apparently Ontario (here) has agreed in principle to Standard Time but (for reasons I do not understand) require Quebec and NY State to agree to it. Why?????? Aren’t we a big enough Province to do what we want? Grrrrrrrrrr!
Yeesh…a regional cluster? That’s sooo wrong. So much for sovereignty, eh? Sounds like a clever way to bypass doing anything because nobody can get everybody to agree. 🤦🏼♀️
I’m with you. Leave the time right where it is and no more switching every six months. You’re spot on.
We didn’t have the usual issues this year. Our kitty was fed the its regular time and all was well.
Have a fabulous day and week. Big hug to you and lots of scritches to Elsa. ♥
With Elsa’s medication schedule, it’s always a crap shoot and can trigger an epileptic episode. Even when Norman and Sam were with me, it was always confusing and unsettling. It’s just so unnecessary. Here’s hoping all continues to go well with Lil’ Bit. 🤞🏼 Happy Monday, dear Sandee.
i am so with you on this one. As you show, the data supports standard time. Why can’t the politicians on board and stay w/ that???? It is just one of myriad of items i don’t understand about the political system and how it operates in this country.
It only seems to operate to the benefit of vested interests…i.e. money changers. If money wasn’t involved, it likely wouldn’t have become an issue.
I am all for permanent standard time! I have never seen the point of making everybody suffer for longer summer evenings. I love summer mornings! So, yeah. Permanent standard time.
I’m with you. I don’t need the sun to be up until 10 pm at night. I’ll just fill the daylight time with things than rob my vitality and peace. Contrary to modern beliefs…we need down time to restore and rejuvenate.
Takes me about a week to readjust. Hey, serious stuff here when my two cats start a meow chorus at 3 AM for some bit of food which usually happens when I head for the bathroom but this time it’s only 2 AM and their body clocks could not be adjusted. SIGH
Pets don’t understand any more than our internal body clocks do. It’s totally unwarranted chaos, especially when medications must be administered at specific times to maintain homeostasis. My body takes some time to adjust, my brain however never fully wraps itself around the concept. It’s like two weeks or so of jet lag. It’s just stupid and useless.
I am with you 100%, Monika. I would much prefer to ease myself into the change rather than be yanked into it. We were just discussing how tired we are because, even if we do try to go to bed earlier, our bodies are not digging it.
We also have a province and parts of other provinces that don’t follow DST. Why can’t we all have the balls to say no?
That is the $64,000 question. Politicians have been wrangling with this for decades yet routinely have the courage to do something about it. A dumb idea that has long outlived any usefulness.
Way outlived. I know one person who loves it. ONE
Gasp!
I know! Sheesh…
Disorientation is a good way of putting it. I always feel like I’m jet lagged and I didn’t even get to Europe! 😉
this clocks are in disorder here too… and the one of the oven… no one can set this ugly beast… and the one in the car is in 6 month auto-corrected ;O)))
Those manual clock corrections are a colossal pain. I spend half the morning adjusting clocks. Guess that’s why they give us an hour, right? Happy Monday.
We’re feeling it, the disorientation.