Daylight Saving Explained
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always looked forward to Daylight Saving Time (DST). As a kid, I like it because it signaled the advent of spring, which meant that summer – and summer vacation – weren’t far around the corner. And to this day there’s something just plain encouraging about that extra hour of sunshine in the late afternoon and evening. Yes, it’s darker in the morning, but that’s the morning anyway, when I’m hardly awake and is totally worth the extra sunlight later. As for missing an hour of sleep, well, I always figured you just go to bed a little earlier or sleep a little later and it should be no problem.
When I became a parent, things got a little trickier, but light-blocking shades and spreading the adjustment for the kids, especially when they were very small, over two days solved that. Once in a while, of course, I had near-miss DST catastrophes, like when in my first year as a pastor when I only caught the announcement of DST on the late news just before going to bed and narrowly escaped coming to church an hour late. But that kind of thing was pretty rare so, all in all, Daylight Savings Time has always been a boon.
Until this year. This year, I’ve had my first DST hangover. I couldn’t believe it was time to get up. It didn’t help, of course, that I stayed up writing until well after 1:00 a.m., telling myself it was really only midnight. Because getting up at 6:00 a.m., from that logic, was now getting up at 5:00. So I thought I’d look into DST a tad more and came across this very informative and fast-paced video explanation by CGP Grey, the same guy who made the brilliant video about the history of Santa.
As it turns out, my DST hangover isn’t unique to me and actually figures as part of a much larger debate about the utility, even sanity, of DST. After watching Grey’s video I have to say that I still like the longer sunshine in the evening, but it’s definitely made me think a little more deeply about Daylight Saving Time and keenly aware that some of you may or may not be using it, or, if you’re tuning in Down Under, may be preparing to come off DST in a few weeks. Wherever you are, I hope you enjoy the video and the sun, whether it’s out longer for you today or not!
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Ha excellent. My state, Queensland, has voted against daylight saving, we are called the Sunshine State in Aus, so don’t need any more sun. The problem comes for our border towns in the south of the state because the next state NSW has daylight saving and many people commute across the border for work so it gets confusing. Imagine being a courier that has to deliver things from one side to the other and get the goods to the customer/companies on time:)
The construction industry is adversely affected by the fact that the lack of daylight at 7 am during the shoulder periods of DST. Workers cannot be productive on the job if they are relying on natural light. Just when the winter mornings are beginning to give way to sunlight darkness closes in again.
I grew up on a farm, and the cows never paid any attention to the time change. They were ready to be milked when they were ready.
Totally understand that “hangover” effect. It started to hit me hard when I started seminary six years ago. Hey, I think you are about that much younger than me…. I’m not saying its age…. but then again, I’m not saying it isn’t. 🙂
Funny, the switch back when we “gain” an hour doesn’t ‘perk’ me up as the opposite effect. I wonder why?
David, thank for the link. I love their site. I have phone call meetings to Germany during the in-between time and all us college edumacated people struggle to figure out what time the meeting start time is to be. Arrrgh. Minor point–no “s” on saving in DST. The video has it right, but you should correct your usage; you’re in good company though, as it’s a very common usage error. Alles in ordnung, ja?! ;o)
On another subject, I am leading a study of your book about the cross. Given you’re Lutheran, any reason why you use of Calvin in the references but no mention of Luther. I’ve read in some places that ML may not had a “favorite” theory. Thanks.
Thanks for the correction – you’re absolutely right and I’ll fix it! 🙂
Luther floated between the theories, using elements of each but never tying himself to any one. The sixth chapter of the book, on the cross as event and experience, is my attempt to get at what I think Luther meant – that the cross is an experience to have, not a theory to consider.
Thanks, again!
Thanks, David, for the interesting video on daylight savings time! I never need an alarm to wake up bright and early till the first few weeks after we switch to daylight savings time! It would be curious to learn more about the health implications of this process. Interesting how one individual made this happen and how it impacted on a country during the time of war….a reminder that one person can make a difference ~ hopefully in the cause of helping more people experience God’s grace and love ~ with hope that all people might live with justice and in peace. Have a most blessed day!