Daylight saving time is incredibly disruptive, pointless and a hassle. The very idea that you can gain or lose an hour is at best theoretical. It generates confusion AND confusion generates bad will. I am among the many who do not like it.

Daylight saving was first suggested by Benjamin Franklin, in 1784, and shot down by many very sensible people as being pointless. Then, during the First World War, it was introduced by the Germans to save coal during war time and in that age of austerity, the concept soon caught on – everyone started doing it.

In the beginning it was thought to conserve energy. Lighter evenings was to mean lower demand for illumination and electricity…or so the theory goes.  Lighting demand does drop, but the warmer hour of extra daylight tacked onto each evening leads to more air-conditioning use, which cancels out the gains from reduced lighting and suggests that daylight saving is a loser.

Humans are creatures of habit. We repeat behaviors, creating patterns that we rely on physically and emotionally. When sleep patterns are disrupted we not happy.

A century ago, we did not have data to tell us whether DST made a real measurable impact. For all we knew, it was useful. But, now we know better. When you are just plain tired there is decreased productivity, decreased quality of life and an increased susceptibility to illness.

Health wise:

  • groggy mornings while adjusting
  • increased risk of heart attack
  • sleep deprivation
  • reduces immune responses

Corporate profitability:

Day light savings sucks—and not surprisingly many countries are considering abandoning the very practice. However, economics have always played a role in the politics of daylight saving time. Over the past 50 years, DST has been stretched in part because several industries have been huge supporters. The golf industry and barbeque season suppliers estimates that each extra month of DST is worth millions. Farmers have, for decades, wildly opposed DST – reporting that cows do not adapt well to a changed milking time.

The passionate debate on the subject,

at least, for now,

is likely to continue as it has for the past century.

“Linda has published fifteen books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish.”