National Observance: Soak up some Daylight Savings sun

Photo in public domainSUNDAY, MARCH 11: It’s time to welcome spring! Don’t forget to set your clocks forward by one hour, as Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. today.

The concept of Daylight Savings Time was suggested by Benjamin Franklin; the modern take on Franklin’s idea was proposed by George Hudson, in 1895. (Wikipedia has details.) Originally, DST served the purpose of saving energy, as it was believed adding an extra hour of daylight in the evening would save electricity. However, the energy benefits of DST are minimal today, experts say, and for many, DST leads to sleep disruption, more traffic accidents on Monday morning and even a slight increase in work-related injuries. According to the Huffington Post, one economist even estimated an average of $3 per American lost due to a decrease in productivity because of DST; that adds up to $1.7 billion per year!

Many ask: Is there a way to avoid the lows of DST?

LOOKING TO GET YOUR BODY IN SYNC? TRY THESE IDEAS:

• Get outside, and watch the sun rise on Sunday morning. Once the sun has risen, soak up those rays to help your brain reset your body clock!

• Take a small dose of melatonin.

• Head inside early on Sunday night, taking care to avoid late-evening sun.

(Get more ideas from ABCNews.)

Originally published at readthespirit.com, an online magazine covering religion and cultural diversity.

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