October 10, 2026
Episode 248: What is all the fuss about the time change?
Some people prefer permanent Daylight Saving Time, others want permanent Standard Time, and some want to just leave it like it is – switching back and forth twice a year.
But this goes beyond personal preference. The data might change your mind.
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Daylight Saving Time vs. Standard Time
What You’ll Learn
The debate is over a century old:
in 1918, Woodrow Wilson signed a federal law that created Daylight Saving Time. It was called, the Standard Time Act. No wonder we are so confused!
It lasted a year and then it was repealed because the farmers hated it.
The goal was to save fuel during WW1 and it was reintroduced during WW2 as War Time. But studies show that the energy savings barely even register.
In 1974, they tried permanent Daylight Saving Time, but reports of children getting killed while going to school in the dark made it immediately unpopular and we went back to changing the time twice a year.
Switching the clocks is the worst option.
Fatal car crashes increase by 6% when we spring forward into DST.
Physical health: There is a “spring spike” in heart attacks with a 24% increase when we switch to DST, but that doesn’t happen when we “fall back.”
Mental health: One study showed an increase in suicide and fatal substance abuse overdose when we switch to DST.
Economic cost: The estimated cost of switching to Daylight Saving Time is $300 million dollars
Advantages of Permanent Standard Tme:
A study done at Stanford University estimated that obesity could be reduced by 2.6 million cases and strokes reduced by 300,ooo.
Advantages of Permanent Daylight Saving Time:
More sunshine in the evening, which is beneficial for outdoor sports like tennis and golf.
Less deer/vehicle collisions, which kill 440 people per year with a price tag of $10 billion.
For health and happiness Permanent Standard Time makes the most sense.
It better aligns with our Circadian rhythm resulting in better sleep and better health. It is endorsed by sleep experts, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Switching back and forth is the worst option.
Tips for making the change this fall
1. Get morning sunlight.
2. Try to make the change gradually, adjusting your schedule by 15 minutes a few days before November 1st.
3. Avoid napping, or at least keep it short.
If this episode has given you a better understanding of the science behind the time change, would you please go to Apple podcast and leave a review?
This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making changes based on this information.
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