The time change, originally suggested by Benjamin Franklin, was intended to make better use of daylight and save energy. Regulations unifying time changes in Europe began to be introduced around 1980.
Currently, this practice affects dozens of countries around the world. It has been in force in Poland continuously since 1977, although the history of this practice dates back to the interwar period. In 2018, public consultations indicated that 84 percent Europeans want to abolish time change. Although the European Commission proposed abandoning this practice, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed work on the project until 2026.
Change from summer to winter time. When do we have to change our clocks?
This year, the change to winter time will take place on October 27, on Sunday, at 3:00 a.m. This is when we will see time rewind to 2:00. This routine change is regulated by a regulation of the Council of Ministers and follows a five-year timetable set by the European Commission.
Effects of changing to winter time
According to experts, changing the time twice a year has various effects, not always positive – from differences in electricity consumption, through environmental benefits, to disturbances in human circadian rhythm.
Changing the time can have a negative impact on well-being and work efficiency, especially in sectors requiring shift work, e.g. in the logistics and transport industries. The need to change the time has a negative impact on people who have sleep problems, because it further disrupts their circadian rhythm.
