The Hidden Impact of Daylight Saving: Sleep, Energy, & Wellness

It’s that time of year again—the sun is going down before 5 PM and we’ve officially changed the clocks. This shift in November marks the end of daylight saving time and the return to standard time.

Daylight saving as we know it began in 2007, but the concept was actually presented centuries ago and officially instituted in the US in 1918. The idea was originally introduced as a way to save energy and resources, especially during times of war.

Today, the concept behind daylight saving is to provide people with more daylight in the evening, making the most of natural light.

However, the continued use of daylight saving is controversial, as the time changes can have unintended health consequences.

Changing the clocks can throw off your circadian rhythms—your body’s natural clock—causing disruptions in sleep, energy, and mood.

As of now, fewer than 40 percent of countries currently implement daylight saving time, although more than 140 countries had undertaken the policy at some point.1

In this article, we’ll explore how shifting time through daylight saving can impact the body's natural clock as well as strategies to prevent some of the negative side effects.