Do Daylight Savings Steal More Than Just An Hour?

Some may see it as a charming ritual to welcome in the summer, for others it is a horror that persists in sneakily stealing an hour’s sleep on a yearly basis.

Daylight saving time (DST) has historical roots dating back to Benjamin Franklin in 1784, when he suggested it as a way to conserve candles. The UK formally adopted daylight saving time in 1916 , driven by the need to save coal during World War I.

Today, while its energy-saving relevance is still debated, it is clear that the toll DST takes on human health is becoming increasingly evident in eye-opening research.

One major flaw in daylight savings is its unique ability to unleash havoc for our circadian rhythm, that's the biological clock that governs sleep and other bodily functions.

DST forces people to be exposed to extended evening light, a jump that wouldn’t feel so pronounced if it weren’t for the clocks going back in the autumn, causing a sense of disruption to our internal clocks and innate perception of time. It is this confusing misalignment that leads to what researchers term "social jet lag," with the body struggling to adapt to the artificial schedule change.

The consequences of this disruption are far from just a niggling sensation of frustration. Studies now show us that a  24% increase in heart attacks exists on the Monday after DST begins, with strokes rising by a shocking 8%  during the same period. In terms of our mental health, it’s also linked to an 11% increase in depressive episodes.

What’s more, sleep deprivation further compounds these risks. It is thought that the average person loses 40 minutes of sleep on the Monday following the spring transition, which impairs cognitive performance , even to the degree of increasing the likelihood of road accidents.

Tampering with the body’s natural rhythms twice a year appears to leave its mark over time.

Our internal clock, finely tuned to sync with light and dark, takes a hit, and, if proper mitigation strategies (i.e. sleep hygiene) are not taken for the good of our health, the consequences can stack up.

How Daylight Savings interferes with hormones and metabolism

Metabolic syndrome is one of the more insidious outcomes that could be tied to DST and poor management of our circadian rhythm in general. It’s a collection of issues: high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, stubborn belly fat, and cholesterol levels. Left unchecked, it opens the door to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Emerging research highlights how circadian dysfunction can interfere with glucose metabolism. The body’s ability to regulate blood sugar follows a natural rhythm, with insulin sensitivity typically peaking in the morning. DST could disrupt this, making it harder to maintain stable glucose levels, which may contribute to insulin resistance over time.

Another point of contact is our hunger hormones. These are the hormones that tell us when to eat and when to stop (ghrelin and leptin, respectively). Disruption of the circadian rhythm throws these hormones out of balance, making it easier to overeat, harder to burn energy efficiently, and trickier to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Over time, this could lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, and a system that is under strain.

What circadian rhythm disorders reveal about Daylight Savings

The concept of the "Circadian rhythm sleep disorder" or “Circadian syndrome” has been introduced to capture the broad impact of these disruptions, tying together conditions like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease with the misalignment of our biological clock. 

So while losing an hour may feel like a minor inconvenience, the underlying toll on our body’s metabolic machinery is far from insignificant. Read on for our helpful guidance on mitigating the circadian rhythm-disrupting effects of DST.

As we have covered, circadian rhythms rely on light exposure to regulate essential processes, including sleep, appetite, and hormonal cycles. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine goes as far as to advocate for abolishing DST in favour of permanent standard time, which, in their informed opinion, better aligns with human biology and supports healthier sleep patterns.

Managing daylight savings with practical strategies:

1. Prepare your schedule : Gradually adjust bedtime and waking times by around 15–20 minutes in the week leading up to the clock change to ease your body into the change without any nasty shocks.

2. Seek bright morning light : Spend time outdoors early in the day or sit near a bright window to reset your circadian rhythm. The Hatch Restore  offers a wake-up light designed to mimic natural sunlight when convenient, helping you feel soothed and energised.

3. Optimise your sleep environment : Create a quiet, dark, and cool bedroom using blackout curtains and noise reducing tools. The SmartGoggles relax facial tension with heat and massage, preparing you for restful sleep.

4. Consider supplements for great sleep: Sleep aids such as Momentous Sleep Supplement  or  Sleep Alchemy by Arrae  can support sleep quality during these periods of chaotic transition.

5. Breathe to calm the nervous system : Apps to guide your breathing in a busy day-to-evening schedule can help to ease any anxiety brought on by seasonal changes and prepare the mind and body for a peaceful night's rest. Let Breathwork and The Breathing App  guide you.

While DST was first introduced in the previous century to save resources during times of crisis, its health consequences are now hard to ignore in our modern lives. From increased cardiovascular risks to impaired cognitive function, the evidence against it is mounting. For the time being, however, it seems DST is here to stay — so the advice is to remain mindful of its effects on your health and do your best to sidestep any of the negative effects.

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