posted on March 11, 2014 by Jaycie Cash

Springing Forward Leaves Us More than Sleepy

springforwardWell, a study I read today proves it: Daylight Savings Time (DST) is dangerous.  I just knew it, didn’t you? Anything that shortens my time to sleep simply can’t be good.

Msn.com had an article based on a 2009 study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology that looked at workplace injuries from 1983 to 2006. It found that the average American gets about 40 minutes less sleep the night after DST goes into effect.

We’re talking a loss of zzzzzz’s on Sunday night, which according to the study is the result of folks not being tired enough to fall asleep essentially one hour earlier than what they’re used to (after all, Sunday’s 11:00 p.m. is Saturday’s 10:00 p.m.). Apparently, this leads to measurable on-the-job safety consequences on Monday.

So, if you found yourself yawning at work yesterday, you weren’t alone.

You also weren’t alone if you walked into an open filing cabinet drawer as a result.

In other words, we all sprang forward . . . into danger!

Christopher M. Barnes and David T. Wagner of Michigan State conducted the study. They found that injuries not only increased by an average of 5.7 percent on the Monday after DST, but that the severity of the injuries increased: The number of days missed due to an injury on the post-DST Monday rose by 67.6 percent compared with average workplace injuries.

Kind of makes you feel lucky just to be walking around on both legs, doesn’t it! Basically, those of us who remain in one piece today should consider ourselves nothing less than survivors.

As is so often the case, this new piece of knowledge led to me developing one of JAYCIE’S THEORIES: it’s not so much the lack of sleep that causes everyone to trip all over themselves the Monday after DST goes into effect. Rather, all those serious accidents are really the result of seeing each other look that tired and disheveled.

Repeat after me: stumbling back and covering our eyes when we’re aghast at what we see before us can have serious consequences!

I’m pretty sure I personally came close to causing one traffic accident, a bad coffee burn for an unsuspecting fellow Starbucks patron and a co-worker’s bungled application of lipstick in the office Ladies’ Room.

Seriously, when I’m not looking my best I should just stay home as a matter of public safety. After today, I think I’ve got my boss convinced.

HOW ABOUT YOU, DID YOU FIND YOURSELF STUMBLING AROUND MONDAY DUE TO A LACK OF SLEEP? ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME? A FREE COPY OF MY DEBUT NOVEL, MRS. GOODFELLER WILL BE RANDOMLY AWARDED TO ONE PERSON WHO LEAVES A COMMENT BELOW BEFORE THE NEXT WRITERSPACE BLOG IS POSTED.

10 thoughts on “Springing Forward Leaves Us More than Sleepy”

  1. Amber Stevens says:

    I am against DST. I am still dragging today. It’s like instant jet lag, but I didn’t get a nice vacation out of the deal!

    1. Jaycie says:

      Excellent point, Amber! There’s just not enough that comes with DST (no souvenirs, tiny airplane or hotel bottles of booze, nothing)! Thanks for pointing that out.

  2. Marguerite Guinn says:

    I have always loved DST. It offers the extra evening hours to enjoy the warm weather. I have actually worked in an hour long walk after work the last two days!

    1. Jaycie says:

      Like you, Marguerite, I too enjoy the evening hours of sunshine. However, I’m afraid mine tend to be spent sitting on my deck with my feet on a cushy ottoman and not walking like you. I’m proud of you for making the healthier choice!

  3. Jerriann Graff says:

    I don’t like it all. I think its worse on the kids, their sleep schedule gets off by an hour.

    1. Jaycie says:

      Yeah, I bet there was plenty of stumbling around in school halls Monday.

  4. Christine L. says:

    I moan and stumble about every morning, regardless as to whether I rise at 6:00 a.m. or what feels like 5:00 a.m. I am NOT a morning person; when left to my own night owl tendencies, I would more likely be going to bed at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. than getting up. *But* — I do like DST because (despite my vampire-like nature) I do like having daylight as late into the evening as possible to better take advantage of the outdoor living afforded by the area in which I reside.

    1. Jaycie says:

      Good for you, Christine, for taking advantage of your outdoor opportunities. That sunlight and air really can add a lot of value and pleasure to our lives. Enjoy!

  5. bn100 says:

    Not a fan of daylight savings time

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

  6. Amber Stevens says:

    Who won the free copy of “Mrs. Goodfeller”?

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