It's autumn and the days are getting shorter with every tick of the clock. Before we know it, it will be time to reset the clocks and turn back to standard time in the United States. The hour that was lost last Spring will be returned on the night of October 31 when daylight savings time is over. The official time to turn clocks back is 2:00 a.m. local daylight time on Sunday, November 1, 2009.
There is much controversy over the perceived value of changing the clocks with the seasons. Some people enjoy the extra hour of light in the morning, while others crave an hour more of light in the evening. The basic principle behind moving clocks back in the fall is to allow for more light in the morning. This can benefit children waiting at school bus stops, people commuting to work, and others who begin their day at an early hour.
The end of daylight savings time signals that winter is approaching and colder weather is converging. This can be depressing for those who enjoy the warm, summer months. But, some scientists believe that there are also health benefits to changing clocks back in the fall. Some of those benefits include:
- Based on 20 years of research and evaluation of medical records, Swedish researchers determined that the number of heart attacks was much lower on the Monday immediately following the change of clocks back an hour.
- Most people adjust to the switch back to standard time with much less difficulty than the switch to daylight savings time. They do not lose sleep over the change and fewer people are sleep deprived.
- Many people have an elevated mood because they look forward to regaining the hour they lost.
In spite of the positive benefits of changing to standard time, there are risks and drawbacks. A study by U.S. Researchers indicates that there are an increased number of pedestrian deaths during the rush hour change in November. The earlier hour of darkness can also cause more vehicle accidents as people adjust to the change in light and dark. It's essential to exercise extra caution when time changes.
Whether you look forward to the changing clocks in November or not, the change is inevitable. It's important to prepare for the change and turn clocks back before turning in to bed on October 31. Enjoy the extra hour by doing something good for yourself. Sleep an extra hour or get up early and get some healthy activity by walking.
Remember, "Spring forward and Fall back" to keep the clocks on time.
Rhonda Day - With over 25 years of experience in the Corporate world with responsibility for creation of business plans, mission statements, marketing ...
