Clocks Go Back Tonight: What It Means for You
As the last Sunday of October rolls around, many of us are preparing for that familiar ritual: turning the clocks back by one hour. This year, in the UK, the change will happen at 2 a.m. on Sunday, when British Summer Time (BST) ends and we return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). For some, this may feel like a simple chance to enjoy an extra hour in bed, but the reality is a bit more complex than just a little extra sleep.
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The idea of daylight saving time actually dates back over a century. It was first suggested in the UK by a wealthy builder named William Willett in 1907. While riding early one morning, Willett noticed that many people kept their curtains closed, missing out on the early daylight hours. He proposed that moving the clocks forward in spring and back in autumn would allow people to spend more waking hours in natural light. Willett’s pamphlet, The Waste of Daylight , argued not only for the health and wellbeing benefits of more daylight but also highlighted potential economic advantages, like reduced lighting costs. Despite garnering support from prominent figures including Winston Churchill and author Arthur Conan Doyle, the idea wasn’t adopted until the outbreak of World War One. In 1916, Germany first implemented daylight saving time, with Britain following shortly afterward. Willett, sadly, never lived to see his idea become law.
While gaining an extra hour in the autumn may sound appealing, the effects on our bodies are more complicated. Our internal circadian rhythms—our natural 24-hour body clocks—are closely tied to sunlight. In spring, when clocks go forward, mornings become darker and evenings lighter, which can disrupt sleep patterns, increase fatigue, and even elevate the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and mood disorders. Conversely, the autumn change, when clocks fall back, is generally less harmful. People may only sleep slightly longer—around 30 minutes more on average—but darker evenings can promote better sleep quality. Some studies, however, suggest that even this small shift may temporarily increase the risk of depressive episodes for certain individuals.
Ultimately, whether the clocks move forward or back, the main purpose has always been to make the most of the changing daylight hours throughout the year. In the UK, this means enjoying longer evenings in summer and adjusting to shorter days in winter. While the extra hour tonight may feel like a gift, experts remind us that our bodies are sensitive to these shifts, and adjustment may take a few days—or even weeks—for some. So, as you prepare to turn back your clocks, savor that extra sleep but also be mindful that our internal clocks may need a little time to catch up.
This simple act of turning back the clocks connects us to more than a century of history, science, and the careful balancing act of living in sync with nature’s rhythm.
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