This weekend, we will switch to daylight saving time, where the clocks will go forward by an hour, resulting in the loss of one hour. This change will occur on Saturday 25th March to Sunday 26th March at 2.00 am. Although changing the time is something we do every year, there is a debate about its necessity. The EU follows a directive to harmonize summer and winter time in all the countries of the European Union to save energy and take advantage of the extra hours of sunlight in the northern hemisphere during the summer season. However, there are voices that argue against this benefit.
The European Parliament has conveyed a study about the DST health effects. As a result the European Commission proposed to abolish the time change in September 2018, following a public consultation where a majority of the European citizens participated. Although the EU member states approved the end of the time change by 2021, it is still not being implemented.
Daylight Savings Time changes compared
The change to daylight saving time is more abrupt than the one in October, and it affects our body and mind, as we lose an hour of sleep and find it difficult to adapt. Our internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, regulates our sleep-wake cycle, metabolism, and other physiological processes. When we suddenly change our sleep schedule, we can disrupt the circadian rhythm, and this has negative health effects, especially in children and the elderly.
The most common effects of the time change are sleep disturbance, leading to insufficient, disorganised, and poor-quality sleep. The time adjustments in summer and autumn can lead to heart attacks, digestive and immunological diseases, and significantly increase the risk of car accidents. Besides sleep disorders, time changes also associate with increased tiredness, fatigue, irritability, attention difficulties, reduced performance, lower productivity, general malaise, and changes in appetite.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound derived from the cannabis plant that has therapeutic effects. It can help alleviate some of the symptoms caused by temporary sleep disruption caused by the time change. CBD reduces anxiety, promotes relaxation, and regulates the sleep-wake cycle, improving the quality and duration of sleep. CBD oil is a convenient CBD product in such cases, either by using it with a dropper or a spray.
In conclusion, the change to daylight saving time can affect the body and mind, causing feelings of fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. To combat these symptoms, CBD can help by reducing anxiety, promoting relaxation, and regulating the sleep-wake cycle.
