Twice a year, millions of Americans participate in a government-mandated social experiment known as Daylight Saving Time (DST). Every spring, we “spring forward,” losing an hour of precious sleep, and in the fall, we “fall back,” gaining it back like a cruel consolation prize. But what if I told you this seemingly minor shift in our clocks has far-reaching consequences for our health, mental well-being, and even the economy?
If you’re one of the many who dread the biannual time change, you’re not alone. Studies show that nearly two-thirds of Americans want to eliminate the practice altogether. So why does it still exist? Who benefits from it? And what does science have to say about the true cost of this outdated ritual? Let’s dive in.
The Health Hazards of Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a direct assault on our health. While many assume it’s a minor shift, science shows that this seemingly small change has serious physiological consequences. Our circadian rhythms, finely tuned by millennia of evolution, are thrown into chaos. The evidence is clear: DST contributes to sleep deprivation, increased health risks, and higher rates of accidents. Let’s break down the research behind these claims.
The Week After DST: A Dangerous Experiment in Sleep Deprivation
You might think losing just one hour of sleep isn’t a big deal, but research strongly disagrees. The Monday after the spring-forward transition sees a 24% increase in heart attacks compared to the previous Monday. Similarly, strokes spike by 8% in the first two days following the time change. Why? Because our bodies operate on a finely tuned circadian rhythm, and when that rhythm is thrown off, so is our health.
A 2020 study published in PLOS Computational Biology analyzed over 150 million patient records and found that DST shifts contribute to higher incidences of cardiovascular diseases, injuries, mental health disorders, and immune system disruptions. The study estimated that each spring DST shift is associated with 150,000 negative health incidents in the U.S. and 880,000 globally. The body’s inability to immediately adapt to the abrupt time change leads to widespread physiological stress, raising the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and metabolic dysfunction.
Mood Disorders and Mental Health Decline
Sleep isn’t just about resting; it’s essential for mental health. DST-related sleep disruptions have been linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and even suicide. A study from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that the transition into DST leads to an increase in hospital visits for mood disorders.
And if you’re feeling a bit more irritable than usual after the time change, you’re not imagining it. People experience a 10% rise in workplace injuries and a 6% increase in fatal car accidents in the days following the shift. Imagine being part of a national experiment that turns everyone into zombies, but instead of craving brains, we just want to go back to bed.
Disrupting the Body’s Natural Clock
Our bodies evolved to sync with the sun, not an arbitrary government-mandated schedule. Morning sunlight is crucial for regulating cortisol (the stress hormone) and kickstarting the body’s natural wake-up process. By pushing daylight later into the evening, DST delays melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep at night. This leads to long-term circadian misalignment, metabolic dysfunction, and increased inflammation.
The PLOS study also found a higher incidence of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes in individuals living on the western edges of time zones, where DST exacerbates the misalignment between social and biological clocks. The delayed exposure to morning light throws off key hormonal cycles, leading to insulin resistance and weight gain.
If you feel like DST makes you tired for months, that’s because it does. While many assume the body adjusts within a few days, studies show the negative effects of the time shift persist for weeks or even months.
The (Supposed) Justifications for Daylight Saving Time
Despite its well-documented harms, DST persists, largely because of outdated or debunked arguments in its favor. Let’s explore some of the most common justifications and why they don’t hold up to scrutiny.
“It Saves Energy!” (Except It Doesn’t)
One of the original arguments for DST was that it would conserve energy by reducing the need for artificial lighting. That might have made sense when people used gas lamps, but modern studies show that DST actually increases energy consumption due to higher use of air conditioning in the evening and more heating in the morning.
A Department of Energy study found that DST saves less than 0.03% of total energy use—which is about as impactful as unplugging your phone charger once a year.
“More Sunlight Means More Productivity!” (Unless You Work Indoors)
While some argue that extra evening sunlight encourages outdoor activity, the reality is that most people still spend the bulk of their day indoors, whether it’s at work, school, or staring at screens. The benefit of that extra hour of daylight is lost when you’re inside an artificially lit office.
Meanwhile, students and early workers suffer from waking up in total darkness, which has been shown to impact alertness, cognitive function, and test performance negatively. So much for productivity.
The Political Tug-of-War Over DST
For decades, politicians have debated the fate of Daylight Saving Time, but change has proven difficult. While many Americans support abolishing DST, legislative gridlock and corporate interests have kept the practice in place.
The Ongoing Political Debate
President Donald Trump has voiced mixed opinions on the issue. In December 2024, he stated that the Republican Party would “use its best efforts” to eliminate DST, calling it “inconvenient” and “very costly to our Nation.” However, more recently, he described it as a “50-50 issue,” acknowledging that opinions on the matter are evenly divided.
Elon Musk also entered the discussion by conducting a poll on social media platform X, where 1.3 million people voted on their preferred time format. The results were somewhat close, with 58% favoring later daylight hours and 42% preferring earlier light.
If daylight savings time change is canceled, do you prefer
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2025
Congress and State-Level Efforts
Legislation to eliminate the time change has been introduced multiple times, most notably in 2022, when the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make DST permanent. However, the bill stalled in the House and has yet to advance. In January 2025, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Vern Buchanan reintroduced legislation to “lock the clock,” but it remains uncertain whether it will pass.
Meanwhile, 20 states have enacted legislation to adopt year-round DST, should Congress allow it. Florida has been at the forefront of this effort, passing the Sunshine Protection Act at the state level in 2018.
Should We Stick With Standard Time Year-Round?
The Case for Permanent Standard Time
If we must pick one, permanent standard time (not permanent DST) is the best option. Standard time aligns with our natural circadian rhythms, keeping morning light in place and preventing the sleep deprivation epidemic caused by DST.
Medical organizations—including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Medical Association—support ending DST in favor of permanent standard time. Even Mexico recently abolished DST, citing the health and productivity benefits of a fixed schedule.
If we’re serious about improving public health, standard time should be the default. No more clock changes. No more sleep deprivation. No more absurdly early sunsets in winter.
How to Survive the DST Transition (Until We Finally Abolish It)
While we wait for politicians to get their act together, here’s how to minimize the damage of DST:
Gradually adjust your sleep schedule a few days before the switch by going to bed 15-30 minutes earlier each night.
Get plenty of morning sunlight to reset your circadian clock.
Avoid caffeine and screens late at night—both interfere with melatonin production.
Be extra cautious when driving in the week following the time change.
Lobby your local representatives to support a permanent fix.
Conclusion: It’s Time to Ditch Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time was introduced in an era when energy conservation meant something very different from today. But in 2024, the negatives far outweigh the benefits. From increased heart attacks and car crashes to sleep deprivation and mood disorders, DST is an unnecessary relic of the past.
The people have spoken: We don’t need this outdated, unhealthy time change. The question is, will lawmakers finally listen? Until then, set your clocks forward and brace yourself for another round of exhaustion.
