No, Daylight Saving Time doesn’t mean you get more sunlight!
So, this coming Saturday we Fall Back for Daylight Saving Time, and most of what you've heard about it is lies.
What's funny is some of the myths have been repeated ad nauseam for so long they have become "truths". It's like the saying "you only use 10% of your brain", that is also a lie.
So, what are some of the myths surrounding Daylight Saving Time?
Myth 1: Benjamin Franklin proposed it
Benjamin Franklin with sun glasses
This stems from him writing a satire letter while he was an envoy in Paris. In it he included "early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
It was first proposed by a New Zealand entomologist, who liked to collect bugs, named George Hudson. He wanted to move it by 2 hours so he'd have more time to collect.
Myth 2: It was for the farmers
Farmer is out standing in his field
Farmers were actually some of the most vocal opponents of using DST. The myth stems from that that extra hour would give them more time in the fields when it actually gave them one hour less to harvest fields. Ranchers didn't like it either as it meant milking cows an hour before they were ready.
Close Up Of Male Hand Adjusting Digital Central Heating Thermostat In Home
Yeah, about that, turns out it's a lie as well. If it saves any energy it's not worth all the headache we all go through twice a year to remember to change our clocks. The amount of energy we save is about .003%. I know that I wasn't very good in math, but that saves me about half a penny a month.
Myth 4: It makes you healthier
Gym pilates woman looking
This one would seem easy to believe. More sun=More vitamin D, which is good for us. No one is going to argue that, HOWEVER, there are lots of negatives that come from the time changes. From workplace accidents to increase in suicides to headaches. We just end up feeling "off" until our natural sleep patterns readjust.
In the United States only two states stay on Standard Time, Hawaii, and Arizona. Earlier this year the Sunshine Protection Act, which would see the United States stick with Daylight Saving Time year round, was passed in the Senate. It still needs to pass the House and have President Biden sign it into law, but this could be the last year we "fall back," and I really hope it happens.