SWFL springs ahead: The benefits of daylight saving time

Sunday marks the start of daylight saving time, when Southwest Florida will spring forward and gain an hour of sunlight at the cost of losing an hour of sleep. But there are ways in which that lost hour can benefit you in the long run.

Daylight saving time faces its fair share of criticism every year. The biggest complaint, though, is missing out on sleep right after it goes into effect. Some people believe that’s reason enough to abolish daylight saving time altogether.

But, ironically, the extra hour of sunlight you gain boosts your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone that helps you sleep.

A study published in Epidemiology reveals that the time change may benefit your brain. Incidents of depression went up 11% when the clock shifted backward in November, suggesting that springing forward may help reduce depressive episodes.

Your eyes may also benefit from switching off your fluorescent lights for an extra hour, thanks to the extra sunlight. The American Journal of Public Health says lights can cause our eyes to strain more and cause cataracts.

Sen. Marco Rubio wants to make these health benefits permanent. He’s been fighting to lock the clock for years.

“The benefits of daylight saving time has been accounted for in the research,” Rubio said in March 2022. “Reduced crime as there is light later in the day, decrease in seasonal depression that many feel during standard time.”

Earlier in March, he reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023, which would make daylight saving time permanent.

“We don’t have to do this stupidity anymore,” Rubio said. “I know this is not the most important issue confronting America, but it is one of those issues where there’s a lot of agreement.”

Sunday is also a good time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says there are around 360,000 house fires every year, which kill more than 2,000 people.