On the idea of daylight saving time all year round
In the city where I am from, there used to be summer time policy between 1941 and 1980. I never experienced the clock change when growing up there.
The first time I faced the clock change was in Sydney, Australia, when I was having a working holiday in March 2013. But I didn’t really feel the change until I noticed my mechanic watch a few days later, because all other electronic devices at that time were able to switch the time automatically.
After coming to the UK, the clock change has become the part of my life and I am increasingly aware of the change.
When mental health is a national issue
The purpose of letting the clock go forward is to save the energy, as well as what Winston Churchill said to enlarge "the opportunities for the pursuit of health and happiness among the millions of people who live in this country”. Especially nowadays when mental health is increasingly important.
In the UK, the daytime increases or decreases around 4 to 6 mins every day. The clock goes back an hour at the end of October, with the daytime (taking London as an example) switching from 7:50–17:30, to 6:50–16:30. The day will eventually end as early as 15:50. The sky becomes dark when students finish their lessons at school.
No need to turn the clock backwards
I always wish the clock wouldn’t go back and stay in the summer time throughout the year. Believe it or not, I already have this idea without googling, as I know time is something constructed by humans and it can be political. Sunset at 16:50 can be a game changer compared to 15:50, like students who can still enjoy a little bit of time outdoors after school all year around, and office workers who can see the sky with daylight after work. Not to mention people who can enjoy outdoors on the grass for a longer period in a year. This is a kind of mental well being that we shouldn’t overlook.
But I am not alone when googling, and people even pursue “double summer time” so the UK can enjoy the same time zone as France. People from agricultural sector or those who live in Scotland may oppose to the idea as the sun rises so late (around 9am).
Why not changing our lifestyle when the seasons change?
Human beings prefer routine and work ethics, so they remain the same (early) starting time of working with the same working hours all year around. The fact is humans need daylight and even sunlight as a “supplement” of physical and, most importantly, mental resources to make us become more creative and more productive.
We don’t actually need to have the same routine throughout the year. We can have different arrangements in different seasons, as our performance can’t reach the peak all the time. It is essential to have rest and even sleep otherwise (long-term) burnout will occur. Why not working less in winter, like starting an hour later but finishing work at the same time like in summer?
There are two alternatives when you google: one is maintaining summer time all the year, and another is to implement “double summer time”. If you ask me, I will prefer the former because clock going forward will lead to sleeping less. Yes I can wake up later or sleep early but adjusting sleeping time is always not easy as you think.
