Photo courtesy of Pixabay user Nattanan23
(SEATTLE) Daylight Saving Time returns to the Northwest early Sunday morning, in spite of the grouchiness of teenagers, lawmakers, and sleep experts.
I think I know what you’re thinking, as I thought the same thing when my calendar reminded me to “Spring Forward” Saturday night before bed.
“Wait a minute, didn’t we pass a law to stay on Daylight Savings, and therefore shouldn’t have to do this clock switch anymore?”
Yes Washington lawmakers DID pass a law, and Governor Inslee signed it back in 2019. But as I told you then, it will take an act of Congress to actually do something about this. States are allowed to remain on Standard time year round (just ask Arizona and Hawaii). Remaining on Daylight Savings year ‘round requires Congressional approval, something Senator Patty Murray attempted to get done last year.
“For goodness sake, voters across the country have shown that they support this,” Murray said on the U-S Senate floor. “Research shows that it is good for public health, studies show real energy savings.”
And besides…
“No one wants dark afternoons during the winter or lose an hour of sleep every spring,” Murray continued. “And I assure you every parent that has to deal with a child every time we change the clocks will be behind this.”
Murray’s “Sunshine Protection Act of 2021” never saw the light of day.
“I don’t know a single person that likes to go through the trouble of figuring out whether their microwave or their oven has the hour right, or anyone who looks forward to the sun setting earlier every winter,” Murray said.
Preach it, Patty.
But there’s another side to this.
Professor Horacio de la Iglesia over at the University of Washington says it would be far easier on our bodies to do what the law will currently allow: Remain on Standard Time year ‘round. He’s looked at sleeping habits a lot, and argues under year ’round Standard Time, our bodies more naturally sync up with daylight hours.
In research a few years back, the U-W professor’s advice actually changed hours for secondary and high school students in Seattle schools.
“Most parents say at 10pm its time to go to bed, but they (teenagers) are biologically unable to fall asleep that early,” the professor says in a school video. “But then, the problem is that we’re forcing them to wake up very early to get to school, so you’re basically ‘chopping-off’ the last chunk of sleep they need.”
He suggested schools start later in the morning, because teens would sleep more, and therefore perform better.
“They [students) increased their sleep about 35 minutes,” de la Iglesia said. “Adding 35 minutes of sleep is really a significant increase.”
35 minutes. And we’re all going to miss an hour of sleep going into Monday morning.
Maybe treat yourself to an extra shot in your morning joe as you start the week?
