Who started DST anyway?

My research found that Germany was the first country to implement DST in 1916 to conserve fuel during World War I. The U.S. adopted DST in 1918, also to conserve fuel during wartime.

Actually, George Vernon Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist, proposed daylight savings time in 1895 to have more daylight for hunting insects. He also thought it would save money on artificial light.

William Willett, an English builder and outdoorsman, proposed daylight savings time in 1905. He noticed how many Londoners slept through a large part of the day as their curtains were closed as he went on his morning walk. By 1907 he self-published a pamphlet, Waste of Daylight, which advocated that time be advanced by four 20-minute increments in April and reversed in September. This did not go over well, but well-known politicians later adopted the Daylight Savings Bill but to round the time change to an hour so as not to confuse the public (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).

On Nov. 18, 1883, the railroads moved forward with the adoption of four U.S. time zones, an idea that had been proposed 11 years earlier by Charles Dowd, a Yale-educated school principal. The time zones, Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific, are still in place today.

It wasn’t the farmers who rallied for DST, that’s a myth. Farmers actually opposed DTS when it was first introduced in the U.S. Farmers would rather use the sun and the seasons to determine milking times, planting charts and the best time to harvest.

The first night of DST, I couldn’t get to sleep. When I checked the time it was 1:15 A.M. (Or pre DST, 12:15 A.M.) It went on all night like that until I passed out around 5 A.M.

I told someone that the time change didn’t bother me, and come to find out, it does. I get confused each time I look out the window and see something different, like sunrise and sunset. My cats are confused because their feeding times have changed but they still get hungry the hour earlier. Too bad, I’m not getting up at 5 A.M. to feed them!

Research shows that the time change increases the incidence of traffic accidents. Heading off to work an hour earlier, with one less hour of sleep causes more accidents. After a week of DST, the accident rate tapers off.

Longer evenings motivate people to get out of the house. The extra hour of daylight can be used for outdoor activities such as pickle ball, walking, tennis to name a few. Hence DST can counteract the sedentary lifestyle of modern living. Don’t forget more time for shopping! And going to restaurants; all of which boost local economy.

When DST was originally introduced it was thought to save money on artificial lighting. Modern society, with its computers, TV-screens, and air conditioning units, uses more energy, no matter if the sun is up or not. Today, the amount of energy saved from DST is negligible.

Some people have said the interruption of their circadian rhythm can result in increased risk for mental disorders. Ways to make the transition easier is to eat a healthy breakfast; food tells your body it’s time to start your day. If possible, get 20- minutes of morning sunlight to readjust your circadian rhythm and improve alertness. Also put children to bed a little earlier before the time change, or for a week or two after DST.

Remember that it takes a week or so to realign your body into accepting DST. Naps help. Or adjusting your bedtime.

What’s a girl to do to abolish DST? Move to Hawaii where they don’t have it.

Lucy Llewellyn Byard welcomes comments and shares. To contact her email lucywgtd@gmail.com