Librarian by Day

The Daylight savings time change is this weekend, and changing the clocks impacts our personal well-being and work. Adjusting the clocks adds more daylight to our evenings, but it can also increase the likelihood of car accidents and mistakes on the road due to disrupted sleep patterns.

The shift in time can disturb our sleep cycles, elevate the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and affect our mood, amplifying feelings of anxiety and depression. Our cognitive functions, such as judgment and concentration, may suffer. Hospitals see a rise in emergency room visits. There is an increase in missed appointments.

We can mitigate these effects by adjusting our sleep time gradually leading up to the time change, increasing and maximizing exposure to natural light to help stabilize our circadian rhythm, and moderating our intake of caffeine and alcohol. Strategic naps can also be a helpful tool.

Let’s look at some ways managers can prepare at work.

• Expect Errors: Understand that mistakes may spike, even weeks after the change. Patience will be your ally.
• Forgive tardiness. Not only are sleep routines disrupted, which may disrupt morning and nighttime routines at home, but the commute to work also requires extra vigilance as car accidents increase after we change our clocks.
• Pause New projects. With cognitive impairment and stress high, this is not the time to launch new projects.
• Flexible Scheduling: In the days following the time change, allow employees to have flexible work hours. This can help them adjust their sleep schedule more gradually without the stress of being late or underperforming.
• Promote a Healthy Work Environment: Ensure the workplace is well-lit, especially in the morning, to help reset employees’ internal clocks. Encourage breaks throughout the day for employees to get exposure to natural daylight, which can help improve mood and alertness.
• Adjust Meeting Schedules: Lighten meeting schedules temporarily, especially in the mornings, to accommodate employees who might be struggling with sleep deprivation. Avoid scheduling important meetings or decisions first thing in the morning when alertness might be lower.
• Support Work-Life Balance: Remind employees of the importance of work-life balance, particularly during the transition period. Please encourage them to leave work at work and to use their time off to rest and recharge. Lead by example.
• Monitor Workloads: Be mindful of employees’ workloads during the DST transition. Overloading employees during this time can exacerbate stress and fatigue. Ensure deadlines are reasonable and provide additional support if needed.
• Communicate Openly: Encourage open communication about the challenges of adjusting to DST. Let employees know it’s okay to speak up if they’re feeling particularly tired or if their work is being affected so adjustments can be made.
• Empower Staff: Staff know themselves and their health needs and habits best. Let staff make choices to cope with the time change, and allow them to get away from their desks and get outside, especially if they do not have access to natural light and a view of nature.
• Educate on Health Risks: Raise awareness about the signs of heart attacks and strokes, with an emphasis on understanding gender differences.

Embracing these adjustments can contribute to fostering a healthier workforce in the face of daylight-saving Time. With thoughtful preparation, we can all navigate through the disrupted sleep patterns and ensure our well-being and work-life remain as uninterrupted as possible.

References and Reading

Acholonu, C. J. (2022, March 12). How “springing forward” for daylight saving time could cause your health to fall back. ABC News.

Caruso, C. (2016, March 9). Daylight Saving: Suggestions to help workers adapt to the time change. CDC.

Hart, R. (2023, March 10). Daylight Saving: How America’s Annual ‘Spring Forward’ Is Bad For Your Health. Forbes.

Shammas, B. (2022, March 18). Why people hated permanent daylight saving time when the U.S. last tried it. Washington Post.

Solan, M. (2023, March 1). The dark side of daylight saving time. Harvard Health.