Daylight Saving Time Begins: Making the Most Out of Longer Days

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a practice of advancing clocks one hour ahead of standard time during the warmer months in order to extend natural sunlight into the evening. This year, DST begins on March 14, 2021, and ends on November 7, 2021.

Origins of Daylight Saving Time

The idea of DST was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 with the intention of making use of natural daylight and saving candles. However, it was not until 1895 that George Vernon Hudson, an entomologist from New Zealand, suggested a two-hour shift in clocks to increase time for studying insects.
In 1907, English builder William Willett introduced DST to the British Parliament, but the idea was rejected. It was only during World War I, when the need to save energy and increase productivity arose, that many countries including the United States, Germany, and Britain, adopted DST.

Making the Most Out of Longer Days

Now, over a hundred years later, DST is still practiced around the world, providing us with an extra hour of sunlight in the evening. Thanks to this, we have more time to engage in outdoor activities, spend time with family and friends, and take care of chores and errands.
To make the most out of your longer days, here are some activities to try:

• Go for a walk or bike ride after work or school
• Have a picnic in the park
• Play sports or have a barbecue with friends and family
• Take a road trip to explore new places nearby
• Go stargazing in the evening

How DST Affects Our Sleep

One downside of DST is the disruption it can cause to our sleep patterns. Losing an hour of sleep can lead to drowsiness and irritability the following day. To adjust to the time change, it is recommended to gradually shift bedtimes and wake-up times by 15 minutes for a few days leading up to DST.
It is also important to create a relaxing sleep environment by minimizing light and noise, and avoiding caffeine and heavy meals before bed.

Remember to Check Your Clocks

While most of our smart devices and appliances automatically adjust to DST, it is still important to manually check and update any clocks that do not automatically change. This includes wall clocks, car clocks, and even some older electronic devices.
By keeping all of our clocks in sync, we can avoid showing up an hour early or late for appointments or events.

Conclusion

Daylight Saving Time may have its origins in saving energy and increasing productivity, but it has also become a tradition that we have come to appreciate in modern times. By leveraging the extra hour of daylight, we can add more activities and enjoyable moments to our days. Just remember to adjust your sleep schedule and check your clocks, and you’ll be able to make the most out of longer days this DST season.

Did you know DST was first suggested by Benjamin Franklin in 1784?

DST was adopted by many countries around the world during World War I to save energy.

Take advantage of the extra hour of daylight by trying out new outdoor activities.

Adjust your sleep schedule gradually to avoid drowsiness during DST.

Remember to manually check and adjust your clocks for DST.

#DaylightSavingTime #DST #longerdays