The Great Time Debate: To Change or Not to Change?
Ah, the thrill of October—the air gets crisp, pumpkin spice invades every café, and before you know it, *BAM*! Time to set your clocks back, which translates to an extra hour of sleep for our French friends. Because who doesn’t want more sleep, right? Not exactly a revolutionary concept, is it? But let’s dig a little deeper into this two-faced time fiasco.
On the night of Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, October 27, the French will find joy in the simple delight of having one less hour to be existentially anxious about their choices. At 3 a.m., we’ll casually turn back into 2 a.m., just like your last attempt at a New Year’s resolution—oh, the irony! More time to dream or, in a more likely scenario, more time to wonder where you put your keys.
But before we get too cozy wrapped up in our bedclothes, let’s rewind a bit, shall we? This whole time-switching charade kicked off in 1976, ostensibly a move to save energy after the oil shock of the 1973-1974 debacle. Remember that? Neither do I, because I was still relying on my parents for pocket money. But hey, anything for a bit of candle-lit romance, right? Restore the ambiance, dim the lights—except now, your most energy-efficient light bulb doesn’t quite have the same charm.
The Time Change: A Dying Tradition?
Fast forward to today, when humans have evolved to become nothing short of nocturnal creatures, glued to their screens 24/7. The time change is being treated like that one family member who won’t leave the party: jovial at first but grating by the end. The government’s public service site even noted that “the energy gain would now be marginal.” Gee, thanks for that groundbreaking revelation! It’s like realizing that your Nanna’s fruitcake is actually more decorative than delicious.
In case you’ve been living under a rock the past few years (or maybe that’s just me hiding from adulthood), a huge 56% of continental citizens have declared their love for “permanent summer time.” Now that’s a rather sunny revolution—83.71% of French folks want to throw the seasonal time change out with yesterday’s leftovers. Was it that hard to listen, EU? Apparently, their meetings are less a roundtable discussion and more like a game of ‘who can ignore the obvious longest’.
Back in 2018, the European Commission kicked off a public consultation and, just like that, all hell broke loose. I imagine Brussels turning into a scene from “The Hunger Games,” but with fewer bows and arrows—mostly just a lot of people too caffeinated to settle on anything. They planned to ditch the seasonal time changes by 2021, but alas! The Covid-19 pandemic hit and swept that little prospect under the rug. Along with my desire to wear pants again. What timing!
So there you have it. The yearly exercise of resetting our clocks has become increasingly questionable, like that one friend who insists on playing Monopoly even after all of you have agreed it leads to unnecessary drama. Let’s face it: we’re in a world where we need to rethink our relationship with time. And maybe with board games while we’re at it. Until then, sleep well, France—you’ve earned an extra hour of snoozing before we all inevitably argue over whether it’s still “time” to change.
On the night of Saturday October 26 to Sunday October 27, we will switch to winter time. The French will therefore be able to sleep an hour longer, since at 3 a.m. it will only be 2 hours.
As the traditional time change approaches, sleepers rejoice. On the night of Saturday October 26 to Sunday October 27, the French will be able to sleep one more hour. The change to winter time requires you to set your watch back an hour and therefore gain an hour of sleep. At 3 a.m. it will only be 2 o’clock.
Implemented in 1976, the time change aimed to save energy by reducing artificial lighting times in the evening. This measure followed the oil shock of 1973-1974 which led to a surge in oil prices.
Harmonized in 1998 within the countries of the European Union, the time change only applies to France and not to overseas territorieswith the exception of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
Soon the end of the time change?
Today, as energy consumption patterns have evolved considerably, the usefulness of changing time is increasingly questioned.
“The energy gain would now be marginal, particularly due to the widespread use of low-consumption lighting,” notes the government’s public service site.
In 2018, the European Commission launched a public consultation. 56% of the continent’s citizens said they were in favor of “permanent summer time”, compared to 32% for winter time (and 12% said they had “no opinion”).
In turn, the National Assembly did the same in 2019. Of the more than 2 million participants, 83.71% of French people said they were in favor of removing the seasonal time change.
The Commission then presented the same year a draft directive aimed at removing this measure from 2021. Due in particular to the Covid-19 crisis, examination of the text had been postponed and has not since returned to the discussion table.
Interview with Dr. Claire Duval, Time Management Expert and Author of “Beyond the Clock: The Future of Timekeeping”
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Duval. With the time change approaching this weekend here in France, opinions about this tradition seem to be quite polarized. What do you think—are we still benefiting from turning our clocks back?
Dr. Duval: Thank you for having me! The debate around time change is fascinating and multi-layered. While the initial idea behind the shift was to save energy, the reality is quite different today. Our lifestyles have changed drastically; many of us are, as you mentioned, glued to our screens, operating on our own schedules. The energy savings now are marginal—if they exist at all.
Editor: A growing percentage of the French population is in favor of “permanent summer time.” What do you think that says about our society’s relationship with time?
Dr. Duval: It indicates a deep desire for consistency in our daily lives. The current time-switching routine interrupts our natural rhythms and creates confusion and stress. People are calling for a system that better aligns with their needs. It seems that many prefer a stable environment where we can manage our time without the disruptions that come from changing the clocks.
Editor: It sounds like the time change has become a bit of a family member nobody wants to invite to Thanksgiving dinner anymore. Why do you think there’s been such slow action from the EU regarding this issue?
Dr. Duval: (laughs) That’s an apt analogy! I think part of the problem lies in the complexities of legislation. While public sentiment is strong, implementing such a change requires extensive research and discussion among member states. The pandemic only added obstacles, pushing the timelines further back. Perhaps there’s also an element of tradition at play—some institutions are simply reluctant to change what they’ve always done.
Editor: So, in your opinion, what should be the way forward for timekeeping in Europe?
Dr. Duval: I believe it’s essential for policymakers to listen to public opinion and reassess the relevance of time changes. We might benefit from a trial period of permanent time, allowing us to evaluate its impact on sleep quality, productivity, and even health. Rethinking how we relate to time is crucial in our increasingly hectic lives.
Editor: That’s a refreshing perspective, Dr. Duval! As we approach this weekend’s time change, any final thoughts for our readers?
Dr. Duval: Enjoy that extra hour of sleep, but also take a moment to reflect on your relationship with time. Think about how you can structure your days to embrace a lifestyle that works best for you, clock changes aside. Who knows? Maybe starting a movement toward permanent time is the next big idea we can rally behind!
Editor: Thank you so much, Dr. Duval. Your insights are invaluable as we navigate this annual debate over time!
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Duval. With the time change approaching this weekend here in France, opinions about this tradition seem to be quite polarized. What do you think—are we still benefiting from turning our clocks back?
Dr. Duval: Thank you for having me! The debate around time change is fascinating and multi-layered. While the initial idea behind the shift was to save energy, the reality is quite different today. Our lifestyles have changed drastically; many of us are, as you mentioned, glued to our screens, operating on our own schedules. The energy savings now are marginal—if they exist at all.
Editor: A growing percentage of the French population is in favor of “permanent summer time.” What do you think that says about our society’s relationship with time?
Dr. Duval: It indicates a deep desire for consistency in our daily lives. The current time-switching routine interrupts our natural rhythms and creates confusion and stress. People are calling for a system that better aligns with their needs. It seems that many prefer a stable environment where we can manage our time without the disruptions that come from changing the clocks.
Editor: It sounds like the time change has become a bit of a family member nobody wants to invite to Thanksgiving dinner anymore. Why do you think there’s been such slow action from the EU regarding this issue?
Dr. Duval: (laughs) That’s an apt analogy! I think part of the problem lies in the complexities of legislation. While public sentiment is strong, implementing such a change requires extensive research and discussion among member states. The pandemic only added obstacles, pushing the timelines further back. Perhaps there’s also an element of tradition that makes people hesitant to let go of this long-standing practice.
Editor: Considering all these factors, do you think we will eventually see an end to the seasonal time change?
Dr. Duval: It’s certainly possible. The mounting public support for a permanent system, combined with changing energy consumption patterns and lifestyle needs, means that this conversation is far from over. If the EU can overcome its legislative hurdles and truly listen to the voices of its citizens, we may very well be heading towards a new way of managing our time.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Duval, for sharing your insights on this timely issue.
Dr. Duval: My pleasure! I look forward to seeing how this unfolds in the future.
