As the yearly event of adjusting our clocks is set to begin in a few days yet again, we in Central Indiana find ourselves caught in the common debate surrounding this whole concept. In my opinion, it should be permanent in the standard time we are about to enter this winter. Originally created as a wartime measure to conserve energy, DST has outlived its usefulness, a bipartisan belief from over half the country that needs to be official in law as soon as possible.
The intent was good, as the goal was to lower the amount of artificial light being produced during evening hours. However, in today’s world, where energy consumption and technology has changed, the rationale is very much outdated. Many studies have shown that energy savings during the longer daylight hours are inconsistent. While states like Arizona and Hawaii rightfully run on a standard time, we need to make it a goal to get back to a scheduled time like it used to be up until 20 years ago (2005).
BHSN sophomore Christopher Crane agrees, saying “I think they should just pick a time and stick with it. It’s been proven to be bad for people’s mental and physical health. It’s an outdated concept in the 21st century and now does more harm than good.”
One of the most applicable arguments against daylight savings time to nearly every American is the effect on public health. The drastic shift in time disrupts the body’s rhythm twice a year and takes a fair amount of time to adjust to. In fact, studies suggest that heart attacks increase on the Monday following the “spring forward” change, due to disrupted sleep and circadian rhythm. As so many Hoosiers and other citizens across the country alike have busy schedules, the 1-hour change makes for a difficult switch. For example, as we all know, sleep is vital to a student’s alertness and awareness at school, and the shift makes for less consistent patterns.
Supporters of DST argue that longer daylight hours can “boost the economy by encouraging outdoor activities into the evening and farmers are affected.” However, evidence for this claim is not backed up. Many businesses that stay open late have to deal with the change as well, without a clear increase in profit. Also, people forget that it doesn’t happen just once but twice annually, and farmers rely on a consistent schedule to manage crops and livestock, as the disruption impacts them negatively too.
The time has come for Central Indiana to join the growing movement advocating for a permanent standard time. By taking this system, we would value consistency and promote better health and productivity, not having to deal with an unnecessary disturbance of our daily lives. Imagine a future where we don’t have to worry about “getting used to” an uncalled-for system that has a direct link to our everyday life. It’s time to put the country’s health and wellbeing first, creating a future where our schedules aren’t dictated by old practices.
