Have you started to notice the days are becoming shorter and shorter? I have. I would be out in my garden by 6:15AM EST, but have been waiting until around 6:30 or shortly there after to head outside to start my morning chores. I know, I know... it's only 15 minutes later, but when you look at over the course of the next two months and we lose 15 minutes daily, it REALLY begins to add up quick.
Picture of moon taken at 6:18AM EST outside back door
So how and why did Daylight Savings Time (DST) become the way of life? This year DST runs from Sunday March 12 until Sunday November 5. I remember the way to turn clocks like this "spring forward and fall back". When I was younger it did confuse me as to which way to set the clocks.
According to timeanddate.com, "about 40% of countries worldwide use it to make better use of daylight and to conserve energy." The history of DST is really explained on their website
There are actually some places that do NOT recognize DST. Huh? It's always been a way of life for me. I mean, both Hawaii and Arizona (plus a few other little places, towns and municipalities across the country) don't turn the clocks back or forward... so why do we?
In 2007, George W. Bush put into play the Energy Policy Act of 2005, to extend the DST a few more weeks every year. Which would give us more daylight and the hope of conserving energy as well as cutting the heating and energy costs for Americans.
I have even noticed some sunlight hours being shaved off in the evenings. Every day we are on the downward spiral to less and less daylight hours. Which can mean only one thing... fall and winter are coming.
Plus on the health side of it all, whenever we have the DST changing of the clocks, it can take me a day or two to get back into my rhythm. My body needs time to adjust. How about you? Do you notice a difference?
Here are some interesting facts about DST according to timeanddate - make sure to check out the health concerns and if DST REALLY saves energy.
Photos are my own unless image credit given