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Sleep experts are pushing for a permanent standard time

Sleep experts are pushing for a permanent standard time

Summary: As the U.S. prepares to “revert” to standard time, the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time, which includes organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, is advocating for the elimination of daylight saving time in favor of year-round standard time. The coalition argues that permanent standard time is more attuned to people’s circadian rhythms and promotes better sleep, mood and overall health. They warn that permanent daylight saving time would lead to long-term health problems, especially in the winter months when there could be prolonged darkness in the morning, which could impact public safety. The coalition is calling on Congress to permanently restore standard time to improve public health and safety.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Health Benefits of Standard Time: The Coalition for Permanent Standard Time argues that year-round standard time aligns with the body’s natural circadian rhythm, resulting in better sleep, better health, and better overall well-being.
  2. Risks of permanent summer time: The coalition warns that permanent daylight saving time would lead to more morning darkness, especially in winter, which would increase the risk of accidents and have a negative impact on alertness and mood.
  3. Public support for change: A growing number of states and the public support eliminating semi-annual time changes, with 64% of U.S. adults supporting moving to permanent standard time instead of daylight saving time.

As the country prepares to “fall back” to standard time on Sunday, November 3, the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time is advocating for the elimination of daylight saving time in favor of a permanent, year-round standard time.

The coalition’s founding members are the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the National Sleep Foundation, Save Standard Time, the Sleep Research Society and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms.

“We know from decades of research that seasonal time changes affect our health,” says Dr. Karin Johnson, a sleep medicine physician and co-chair of the coalition’s steering committee, said in a press release. “The change to daylight saving time in the spring was associated with an increase in car accidents, cardiovascular disease and medical errors in the days following the change.”

There is support for ending the semi-annual time change. Several states have enacted laws to eliminate seasonal time changes, which are subject to federal approval, and a recent poll from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shows that 64% of U.S. adults support eliminating seasonal time changes.

“There is tremendous support for eliminating time changes, but it is important to understand that making daylight saving time permanent would be a huge mistake,” Johnson added in a press release. “Our internal clocks are synchronized by the natural time pulses of sunlight and darkness, so we never adjust to the artificial time change caused by daylight saving time. Permanent daylight saving time would cause problems for our sleep, attention, mood and health all year round.”

Supporting circadian rhythms

Restoring permanent standard time would keep time closely aligned with the position of the sun, notes the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time. This would “support humans’ circadian rhythms, the body’s internal clock that regulates the timing of alertness, sleepiness, and other biological functions.”

“Standard time allows us to enjoy more sunlight in the morning when we need to get up and start the day, and it balances the darkness with the evening hours when we need to relax and prepare for sleep,” Johnson says in a press release . “The downside of permanent daylight saving time is that it would mean we would experience darkness later in the morning, especially on the shorter days of winter. In some parts of the US, sunrise would not occur until after 9 a.m. in the winter, putting children at risk as they wait for the bus or walk to school in the dark.”

Congress established permanent daylight saving time in 1974, but repealed it after just one winter due to public backlash. The Permanent Standard Time Coalition is calling on Congress to restore permanent standard time.

“Permanently restoring normal time would provide long-term health and safety benefits,” Johnson said in a press release. “Observing standard time year-round would help us all sleep and feel better no matter the season.”

Recommendations for minimizing the impact of the fall time change

While the fall time transition is often easier to manage than the spring time transition, the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time encourages individuals to take steps to minimize any negative impacts, including:

  • Sleep at least seven hours a night before and after the time change. Maintaining a consistent sleep routine is crucial.
  • Adjust the timing of daily routines that are “time cues” for your body, such as: For example, change your meal times or exercise schedule by moving them a little later in the days before the time change.
  • Early in the evening on Saturday, November 2nd, set your clock back one hour and then go to bed if you feel sleepy.
  • In the week following the time change, go outside and enjoy the early morning sun, as the bright light will help adjust your internal clock to the new time. This alignment helps regulate sleep and attention.

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