Changing to winter time most often brings to mind longer, calmer mornings and a moment of respite before the long winter nights.
Time change 2024
In 2024, this breakthrough will occur on the night of October 26-27. That is when, at exactly 3:00 a.m., we will turn our clocks back one hour – returning to 2:00 a.m.
Although the change from summer to winter time is often experienced as a pleasure, it is not all that simple. Our biological clock, the so-called circadian rhythm, adapts to natural cycles of light and dark, so even one hour can affect the quality of sleep and the overall condition of the body.
In the first few days after the time change, many people feel disoriented, tired, and even more stressed, especially when returning to everyday duties requires adapting to the new conditions
History and regulations governing daylight saving time
The change from summer to winter time is regulated in Poland by a regulation of the Prime Minister, in accordance with EU regulations, which in turn are based on Directive 2000/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 January 2001. In Poland and most European Union countries, the change of time takes place twice a year: on the last Sunday of March (to summer time) and on the last Sunday of October (return to winter time).
The primary goal of introducing daylight saving was to optimize the use of daylight and save electricity, especially in countries located in temperate latitudes. In the 19th century, when Benjamin Franklin first proposed the idea of moving clocks, it was to better match human activity to the natural rhythm of the day.
The first mass introduction of time change took place, among others, in Germany in 1916, during World War I, and in Poland it was first introduced in the interwar period.
What does the time change look like in Europe?
In Europe, daylight saving time is common, although there has been a debate about its usefulness for years. In 2018, the European Commission proposed abolishing daylight saving time, citing the lack of significant energy savings and the health problems that changing people’s circadian rhythms can cause. Despite this, there has yet to be a full agreement on the matter.
From a practical point of view, the time change in Europe applies to almost all EU member states, with the exception of Iceland, which uses Greenwich Mean Time all year round.
Do all countries in the world use daylight saving time?
Many countries, especially those near the equator, do not use daylight saving time at all, because the differences between the lengths of day and night in these regions are minimal. Examples include countries in Central America, the Caribbean, and much of Africa and Asia. These include countries such as Costa Rica, Kenya, and the Philippines.
In the United States, daylight saving time is in effect, but not in all states – Arizona and Hawaii are exceptions, where the time is not changed. Australia also uses daylight saving time only in selected states. Interestingly, Russia in 2011 completely abandoned daylight saving time, adopting summer time as the year-round time, but returned to permanent winter time in 2014.
An interesting case is South America, where, for example, Brazil abandoned the time change in 2019 after decades of practice. In turn, Chile, although previously using this mechanism, decided to permanently introduce summer time in 2015.
Does time change have a future?
Although changing the time is common, arguments about its negative health effects are increasingly being raised. Studies show that changing the time affects the quality of sleep, increases the risk of heart attacks and can lead to problems with concentration. Additionally, arguments about energy savings, which were crucial during the industrial revolution, are losing their importance in the era of modern technology.
Poles strongly support the abolition of the two-time change per year. According to a CBOS survey from March 2019, 78.3% of respondents oppose the current system, while only 14.2% support its maintenance. Most adult Poles, when choosing one time, prefer Central European Summer Time, known as Summer Time. This option is supported by over 74% of respondents.
The European Commission, at the request of citizens, following a resolution of the European Parliament and based on numerous scientific studies, proposed in September 2018 to abandon seasonal time changes. Work on this project was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the European Commission suggested that Member States continue to apply the current rules on time changes until 2026.
PiS MP on the fight against flooding: It was political theater. The country was paralyzed/Polsat News/Polsat News
