Daylight Savings Time has begun; we share a few remedies that may help you through it

Daylight Saving Time (DST) ended on Sunday, bringing with it the annual debate of how useful clock changes really are. DST begins on the second Sunday in March, when the clock jumps ahead an hour, and ends on the first Sunday in November, when the clock falls back an hour, resetting to standard time.

DST was originally instated by many of the North American and European countries during World War I as a method to conserve coal for the war effort. The United States reinstated it during World War II, and eventually codified it into federal law in 1966 with the Uniform Time Act. The one exception to this is the state of Arizona, which opted out of DST in the late 1960s, stating that their hot, desert climate meant that DST would actually cause them to spend more on heating and cooling than standard time.

We think that DST may not be the best choice for the country, especially as the way we power homes and buildings has changed and become more efficient. In the days of coal, it certainly made sense to preserve as much as possible by limiting the amount of time Americans would have to light and heat their homes. Now, heating, cooling and lighting have gotten much more efficient and energy conscious. That is not to say that conserving energy is not a good thing, but that factor has become extremely limited. Many studies have found that energy savings during DST are negligible, often under 1%. DST creates more saving the further you are from the equator, and in the grand scheme of things the US is not incredibly far from the equator, meaning the return is low, especially in the south where cooling costs can be high throughout the summer.

Another major downside to DST is the disruption of sleep schedules and the circadian rhythm. The human body gets used to going to sleep and waking up at the same time every night. By suddenly changing the times by an hour, it can be hard to fall asleep or wake up on time, causing people to lose sleep or waste time before bed or after waking up. This can also lead to a jetlagged feeling, making the week or two after the time changes feel uncomfortable, like something is “off.” We have had that feeling this week, and it has made keeping our schedules feel difficult, especially how we plan our mealtimes. There is the general feeling that something, such as class or practice, should be happening, when it is still an hour away. It can be hard to feel productive or get into a groove with work and assignments when this is the case.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) also kicks in after falling back with DST. SAD is a type of depression that happens during fall and winter seasons. It is the aftermath of less daylight and shorter days, setting off a chemical imbalance that leads to symptoms of depression. Some symptoms of SAD include having low energy and feeling sluggish, losing interest in activities, sleeping too much, having difficulty concentrating and feeling down most, if not all, days. These symptoms can take major tolls on your day-to-day life and impact your work, relationships and mental health.

While we cannot do much to change DST happening, we do want to offer a few ideas and hopes when you may feel down in the next coming months. Here are a few remedies for combating DST: Exercising is one important thing to do during fall and winter, which includes exercising outside. Getting fresh air in daylight is important to our bodies, even in the colder months. Bundle up and go outside to refresh your mind. Exercising inside is also important and is important to fighting SAD. Socializing is also important during the fall and winter months. Grab dinner with friends, watch a movie or study with friends and classmates. These socializations are important for our mental health when the days are short. Balancing a healthy diet, adding vitamin D to your routine, light therapy and mediation are a few more tips when you are feeling down in the upcoming months.

It is normal to not like DST. As you can tell, we do not like it, but since it is an event we cannot change just yet, we hope these tips may help you find ways to change your tune during DST