Student Reflections on Daylight Saving Time

By Jaeda N. ‘28

Signals of autumn are all around us as falling leaves, brisk mornings, and Halloween decorations abound. These seasonal markers serve as reminders that soon, on November 2, we will need to reset our clocks to “fall back” in accordance with the end of daylight saving time (DST).

The practice of having biannual time shifts is contentious, with both ardent defenders and strong critics. DST has been around since 1918, when it was inaugurated in order to extend working hours and conserve fuel and energy while the United States fought in World War I. But in recent years, some sleep experts have argued against the DST time changes, finding that the time shifts could potentially be tied to poorer sleep and health outcomes. In 2018, California voters approved Proposition 7, allowing the California State Legislature to lock clocks to either year-round DST or year-round standard time. However, the change has yet to be implemented, leaving Californians to continue resetting their clocks every fall and spring. 

On College Prep’s campus, as students and faculty members prepare for earlier sunrises and sunsets, some feel excitement whereas others have expressed their dislike for the time change. Alex Fiman ’28 looks forward to the upcoming return to standard time, noting the “deeply nostalgic associations” she has with the darker evenings. She contends, “I know many people are against it getting darker sooner, because it feels later when you still need to get work done, but I think it feels more peaceful and productive with less going on.” 

Some students feel discontent with having to reset the clocks for DST, especially during the “spring forward” transition during March. “I don’t like daylight savings,” shares Malayka Williams ’29. “Especially in the spring, because it feels like you lose an hour of time, and you wake up at 7 o’clock but it’s actually 6 o’clock in your mind.” In a similar vein, Sam Christensen ’28 says, “I like the November time change; I hate the spring one,” and proposes, “We should just change this November and then never change it again.”

Conversely, Elsa Chun ’28 defends the current time system, arguing that the time shifts to and from DST add excitement and novelty. “When you think about the same 24 hours in a day… doesn’t that feel a little bit monotonous?” she asked, saying that DST “jazzes it up a little bit.”

Whatever your personal opinions and preferences may be on DST, it’s important to make sure you’re prioritizing your sleep and well-being as you prepare to “fall back” this year. If you’re worried about the disruption to your circadian rhythm, try shifting your eating and sleep schedule back in gradual 15-minute increments ahead of the return to standard time. And try to look on the bright side (pun intended) of the time change—the earlier sunshine can help make it easier to wake up and get out of bed on these chilly autumn mornings.