Daylight Savings Time Negatively impacts your day-to-day life, both physically and mentally.
Daylight savings happens twice a year, once in November and again in March. The ultimate reason for this is to extend evening daylight during warmer months and reduce the need for artificial light. The “fall back” shift is also used to conserve energy. Critics point out how it can have negative effects on health and minimal energy savings.
Losing an hour of sleep during Daylight Saving Time can lead to fatigue, reduced productivity and health problems. Businessinsider.com states that “hospitals report a 24% spike in heart attack visits around the US.” While an hour shift may not seem significant, health problems with daylight savings can affect anyone to a degree as serious as a heart attack. Heart attacks not only destroy victims’ physical health, but it additionally creates mental trauma. This means that victims cannot work or attend school, both of which are necessary to our survival.
Furthermore, Harvard health adds that, “less morning light decreases levels of serotonin, and the exposure to light later in the evening delays the production of melatonin.” Serotonin is our “feel good” neurotransmitter. Without it, mental health plummets, and motivation drops rapidly. The once powerful will to attend school and work will be gone, and attendance will descend.
As of this year, Pennsylvania senator Scott Martin will soon reintroduce a resolution to the United States Congress to create a year-round time system, reports Abc27news. “According to the National Conference of State Legislators, at least 31 states have considered or are considering bills or resolutions related to daylight saving in 2025.”(Abc27news).
As we adjust to the clock change, let’s continue to push for a reassessment of Daylight Savings Time by reaching out to Pennsylvania senators. Here are the members of Pennsylvania’s senate, (Members of the Senate | 2025-2026 Session – PA General Assembly), find your county and contact them with concerns.
It’s time to weigh the pro’s and con’s and find an alternative that benefits both our well-being and energy conservation.
