You sleep an hour more, but it will get dark earlier. What if she were repealed?
The annual rite of change of time approaches, bringing with it the promise of a longer night and a shorter afternoon. This event, which has been repeated continuously since 1966, will see the hands of the clock move back one hourprecisely from 3:00 to 2:00 in the morning, in the night between 28 and 29 October 2023. It will be light earlier and we will sleep an hour more, but on the other hand it will also get dark earlier, with all that this entails in terms of mood and circadian rhythm. L’winter time will remain in effect until the end of March, in the week of March 30 and 31, 2024. At that time, we will begin to enjoy thedaylight savings timewith the hands that will advance one hour and give us a little more light on spring evenings.
the impact on sleep and mood
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While the time change offers the opportunity to sleep more, it is essential to wisely deal with the disturbances that can arise from adapting to solar time. The shortening of the days, in fact, can have an impact on ours perception of time and on ours daily routine, turning into a panacea for early risers and a nightmare for those who love to sleep. Moving the needle backwards affects ours circadian rhythm, that is, the natural sleep-wake cycle. This can translate into insomnia, interrupted sleep, difficulty falling asleep and impact overall well-being. Sleepless nights and tired days are a common problem during this transition period. Difficulty reconciling sleep and waking up can negatively affect concentration and even increase stress levels.
So, how can we mitigate these disturbances and facilitate adaptation to the alternation between light and dark? A useful approach is anticipate gradually meal times and bedtime in the days before the time change. This helps the body prepare for the arrival of daylight saving time, making the transition less traumatic. Also, keep a regular routine it can help stabilize the circadian rhythm, facilitating adaptation. During this time of change, it is important to adjust the consumption of caffeine and other stimulants. Reducing their intake, especially in the afternoon and evening, can help reduce sleep difficulties. Exposure to natural light in the morning can also help synchronize your circadian rhythm with daylight saving time.
the abolition of solar time
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While the debate on the abolition of solar time is becoming more heated, it is above all the Nordic countries that are turning their attention to Europe, asking for a definitive decision on the matter. Their main argument is that changing the time twice a year can have negative effects on the psychophysical state of people and significant repercussions on health and well-being. Despite the ongoing debate, however, no final decision has been made so far, but according to the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (Sima), the permanent adoption of summer time could lead to significant benefits for Italy.
What would happen with the abolition of summer time
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In particular, this step would allow you to gain an hour of solar light and heat every day, improving the quality of life. Furthermore, considering current gas prices and energy efficiency, there would be savings estimated at around “1 billion euros” in the first two years alone. “Politics is discussing gas rationing for businesses, Saturday DAD for schools and reducing the duration of heating from next autumn” we read in the online petition launched by the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (Sima) and Non-profit Consumerism, “but forget that already in 2018 the European Parliament approved theabolition of the obligation of the time change twice a year, effectively leaving the various states free to choose whether to opt for solar or summer time”.
Energy saving
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The energy savings resulting from the permanent adoption of summer time would make it possible to “cut climate-altering emissions for a total of 200,000 tons of CO2 per year” equal to 2-6 million new trees, calculate Sima & Consumerismo. According to Terna data, summer time from 2004 to 2022 made it possible to save approximately 10.9 billion kWh and 2 billion euros for citizens.
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