In looking at the pros and cons of daylight saving time, the health and safety implications for continuing the changing of the clocks is clear — We should seriously consider a permanent standard time system with the knowledge that we have.
As the saying goes, this weekend we will “fall back” to standard time, moving our sunrise from 7:43am Newfoundland Daylight Time (NDT) on October 31 to 6:44am Newfoundland Standard Time (NST) on November 1st.
From November 1st, 2026 until March 14th, 2027 we will be in standard time, allowing for more light in the mornings, but shorter evenings with the sun setting earlier.
This time of year people may see some positives to the time change as we’ll gain an extra hour of sleep, benefiting those spending long hours at both the library, and George Street alike.
While some may be happy to gain that extra hour in bed this weekend, sleep specialists will argue that this change in time may be taking a toll on our health and safety.
Anna Feehan, a Masters Student in experimental psychology explained to The Muse some of the challenges we experience when the clocks change.
One example Feehan gave us was that our circadian rhythm, also known as our internal clock, is largely influenced by sunlight, which allows our internal clock to reset. Feehan says “Sunlight acts as a signal to shut off ‘sleep hormones’ such as melatonin and increases cortisol and then our biological timers program our brain to naturally restart melatonin production later, so it’s easier to fall asleep at night”.
Feehan goes on to mention that not only does the changing of the clocks lead to short-term sleep disruptions and fatigue, but it could also lead to an increased risk for traffic and workplace accidents. She explained that a misalignment in the circadian rhythm during daylight saving time can have you waking up during a point when your body is still releasing melatonin, which causes you to wake up tired or groggy. She adds “The daylight you rely on to shut down melatonin production has been delayed an hour, throwing off your natural rhythm.”
While for now, we are in a system where the clocks will change twice a year, Feehan shared some tips to help make the change easier on our bodies: “It is recommended to make small changes to help your body adjust to daylight savings such as gradually shifting your bedtime earlier by approximately 15 minutes for a few days leading up to the change, try to maintain a consistent sleep schedule by going to sleep and waking up at similar times each day, and to avoid caffeine close to bedtime to help protect your sleep. Getting more sunlight in the mornings can also help to regulate your internal clock”.
The Canadian Sleep Society favours a system of permanent standard time, eliminating daylight saving time and therefore also eliminating changing of the clocks.
While here in Newfoundland and Labrador we still practice daylight savings, places like British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and Saskatchewan have all moved to permanent systems. Newfoundland and Labrador’s premier, Tony Wakeham says that it is something that will have
to be considered, with other provinces making the change. Quebec’s new premier Paul St- Pierre Plamondon, says that his government will look to abolish the time change and move to a permanent system.
For the time being, I would say get out and enjoy every daylight saving summer night in the future because the science is there, and I believe it is just a matter of time before we are living on standard time.