Janice R. Andrews
The purpose of Daylight Saving Time (DST) is once again under dispute as the clocks change today, igniting the yearly ritual of confusion and discussion. Those living through the Time of Great Confusion are asking themselves the age-old question, “Fall forwards… or back? Return of springtime?” Many people are baffled by the time shift and finding it difficult to navigate their routines.
What makes things even more confusing is the variation across various regions. A famous interview that was lost because of time zone confusion is an example of how difficult it has gotten to schedule international meetings since America started implementing DST two weeks early.
Farmers, who have long resisted DST because it interferes with their schedules, are not entirely to blame for the practice, despite what the public believes. Actually, Chris Martin of Coldplay’s great-great-grandfather William Willett was the one who initially put out the notion to increase the number of hours that the sun was visible for outdoor pursuits like horseback riding.
Although DST has the advantage of longer evenings, there are significant disadvantages. Clock variations have been related in studies to a higher risk of heart attacks, auto accidents, and mental health problems.
There have been calls for a reevaluation of the practice due to the devastating effects of disrupted sleep patterns on cognitive function and general well-being.
Amid this temporal upheaval, philosophical issues concerning humanity’s endeavor to manipulate time itself surface. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learnt from the natural rhythms of the solstices, which serve as a reminder of the fleeting aspect of existence, as we struggle with the arbitrary nature of scheduled lives.
One thing is certain despite the ongoing controversy: Daylight Saving Time continues to stir up controversy and cast doubt on our perception of time. Watch this space for further updates as time runs out.
