We are coming up on the spring season. This is a wonderful season. It is as colorful as fall, but plants, trees and animals are coming alive, not dying. You will see purple, pinks, white, yellow, light green, blues, red, orange and lavender. Spring is a time of renewal on the Earth and in your soul.
But, with spring also comes the dreaded Daylight Savings Time. This is a system we do not need and should outlaw. First, the name is incorrect. We aren't "saving" daylight. We are moving it to be later in the day, but the number of hours that are bright is the same in EST or EDT. During June, it is about 12-14 hours of daylight whether that day starts at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. Second, it was started for farmers and to save energy, but most of us live at our computers inside an office instead of on the farm. I would also argue that farmers would prefer light in the morning when they have to get up to milk the cows. I would also argue that we use the same amount of energy by turning on lights in the morning instead of night. Third, it makes drivers sleepy and increases accidents. Fourth, it reduces production instead of increases it. Arizona does not do Daylight Time and has no problems. Why does Alaska do Daylight Time? In June, it's 24 hours of daylight regardless. It does not make sense.
I have lived in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Arizona
and Florida. In Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, I felt the
benefits of Daylight Savings Time although it still hindered my
inspiration and writing. More on that later. I don't agree that Florida should change clocks. The state has
so much sunshine that it could be similar to Arizona and feel the
same whether clocks are changed or not.
Becomes False Benefit
People say that we have more daylight
in the evenings, but that means that the sun takes longer to rise in
the morning. Also, unlike when our country was agricultural in
nature, many people work indoors and do not need the extra daylight
in the afternoon and evening. However, I will admit that many people
will take advantage of the extra light in the afternoon and evenings
by being active after work. Many people go home and plop on their
couch instead of doing something active in the evenings. Therefore, I
would argue that the extra daylight in the evenings is a false
benefit and is more harmful than helpful.
For example, accidents increase during
the time change because it is darker during commute time and because
people are tired. Their bodies take a few days to adjust to the
change in the time. Both of these statistics are documented by sleep
doctors and transportation officials. In addition, my own experience
proves that the time change affected my children when they were in
school. The
darkness in the morning made it tougher getting them out
of bed and on the bus. They were tired and often fell asleep in class
around the time change in the spring and fall. Therefore, the time
change makes Americans less productive not more. I know this is true for me and my
marketing company.
Hinders Writing
I said at the beginning that the time
change isn't good for writing. In my experience, authors need a
dedicated time to write. Some will rise at 4 a.m. and write before
breakfast. Others will write at night. Some need nature to
get inspiration. For me, I write most effectively in the morning. I
usually have ideas bouncing around my head when I first wake.
However, I need sunlight to be most effective and alert. When the
country changes the clock ahead, I lose an hour of sunlight in the
morning. It takes me longer to become alert and ready to write. That
is why I believe that Daylight Savings Time hinders writing. Even
though I have more daylight at night, I am usually worn from the
day's work and don't want to write beyond 5 p.m. anyway. The sun
gives me inspiration. The darkness tires me. My
writing suffers. When
the sunlight increases as spring progresses, I am more effective, but
March is less productive for me because I have less sunlight when I
want it – in the mornings.
Time Matters
The time authors write matters to
them. They need to feel inspired and creative to put forth the words
they need. Anything that might detract from their creativity matters.
Consider how the time change might affect your writing. It is time
that Daylight Savings Time be ended.
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