Daylight Savings In The UK: History, Pros & Cons and Tips

Can time really spring forward and backwards in the UK? Clocks go forward 1 hour in several countries around the world, and you can witness the phenomenon in the UK. Also known as DST (Daylight Saving Time) or BST (British Summer Time), the practice helps you time travel, in its own way.

Daylight saving time in the UK offers an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings during summer. It's pretty cool, right? So, let's figure out how the British Summer Time clocks change, whether it's a good thing for you, and a fun fact about this. 

What is Daylight Savings Time? 

We all have been there, looking up "daylight saving time meaning" on the search browser the minute we heard the term. Daylight savings, or DST, is a varied practice that many countries (such as Canada, Australia, some parts of North America, etc) at extreme latitudes follow, where they move the clocks ahead during summer to leverage the maximum use of daylight. In the winter, they set the clocks back when daylight decreases. 

The cycle of time changes differs in the Northern and Southern hemispheres due to the different onset of climates in the regions. Many countries practice day light saving; moreover, the cycle of daylight changing time doesn't need to be similar between each country. As a result, know when, where, and how daylight savings are implemented in your place of residence or where you are visiting.

What is UK Daylight Savings?

Designed to increase the use of daylight during summers in the Northern Hemisphere, UK daylight savings time cycles from spring to autumn. The daylight changing time starts on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Sunday of October.

There is obviously no effect on the overall length of the day. However, sunrise and sunset times are delayed by an hour during summers due to the earth's orientation and the UK's higher latitude location.

What is Springing Forward and Falling Back?  

While natives are habituated to daylight saving time in UK, people moving to the country for work or studies usually have a difficult time. When UK daylight savings takes place in March, it is all about "springing forward." In this way, daylight savings helps you add an hour from the morning to the evening. So, you may "lose" an hour of sleep as your 1:00 AM becomes 2:00 AM. The days feel shorter; you will get less sunlight in the mornings: be ready for earlier wake-up times. 

On the other hand, the UK day light saving in October is about "falling back," as you reset the clocks back by one hour. As a result, you again "lose" an hour of sleep as 2:00 AM becomes 1:00 AM. Days will feel shorter with less sunlight in the afternoons and evenings: plan your outdoor activities accordingly. 

When did UK Daylight Savings Begin?

The history of daylight savings time in the UK dates back more than 200 years ago. Benjamin Franklin mentioned the idea of British Summer Time or DST for the first time in 1784. It was not until 1907 that a serious proposal about daylight saving time surfaced, and William Willett was the mastermind behind it. He self-published a pamphlet entitled "The Waste of Daylight" to make people aware of it. 

While Germany was the first country to adopt daylight savings time in 1916, the UK did the same after a few weeks during World War 1. Since then, daylight savings in the UK has undergone multiple changes. It was also synced with the European Union at one point.

How does Daylight Savings in the UK Affect Your Life? 

The specific dates for DST in UK are never the same, and the complexity can sometimes leave you in perplexity. Moreover, many campaigners are against UK daylight savings for several reasons. Let's have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of daylight saving time in the UK and decide for yourself! 

Pros of Daylight Savings in the UK

Daylight Saving in UK was implemented for a reason in the first place, mostly due to the economic benefits and saving energy. Let's dive down and explore the usefulness of Daylight Savings UK:

‍1. Longer Evenings 

Thanks to daylight savings in UK, the longer evenings encourage people to leave the house. You can enjoy outdoor activities like baseball, golf, soccer, running, and other sports can be enjoyed, owing to the extra hour of Daylight. As a result, UK DST combats modern society's sedentary lifestyle.

Additionally, the tourism sector benefits greatly from longer, brighter nights. The local economy gets a boost from longer evenings, giving people more time to dine, shop, or even explore the best neighbourhoods in London or Bristol. 

2. Less Artificial Light

Ensuring people are active during daylight hours helps reduce the demand for artificial lighting, which is one of the goals of daylight savings in the UK. Also, at latitudes in the middle, adjusting daily schedules to the summer's changing day lengths may aid energy conservation.

3. Populace Safety

Brighter evenings result in fewer accidents and crimes. According to studies, DST UK 2023 reduced pedestrian fatalities by 13% between dawn and dusk, significantly boosting road safety. Post springtime change to daylight savings UK; robberies fell by around 7%.

Cons of Daylight Savings in the UK

Changing the clocks twice a year for daylight savings in UK can have a negative impact, too, and the effects may vary from person to person. However, some find daylight savings in the UK adversely affecting their lives, and below are the reasons why: 

1. Energy consumption

When daylight savings in UK was first implemented, more daylight was essential. It reduced the need for artificial lighting and increased energy savings. Whether it's a sunny or gloomy day, the modern world uses artificial lights, computers, TVs, air conditioners, and a myriad of appliances, which require a lot of energy anyway.

2. Health Effects  

Of course, your sleep schedules would be thrown into disarray as British summer time clocks change. The body's biological clock picks up a new track, affecting the circadian rhythm in odd cases. While this may cause higher fatigue in some people, it can affect adversely in some cases. Due to fatigue, a person has more potential to procrastinate and 'cyberloaf' instead of working. 

How Should International Students Deal with Daylight Saving in the UK? 

As an international student studying in the UK, the practice of UK daylight savings can be a hassle, and the transition to BST can affect people in various ways. Some of the issues you might face as an international student during daylight savings in the UK are. 

1. Adjusting to the UK Time Zone  

When you move away from your country, you are already adjusting to the time zone and the new lifestyle. Despite all this, dealing with daylight savings can make living abroad even more difficult as the change is consistent. 

2. Distance Learning

Suppose you're an international student who lives in your native country but is pursuing your degree from a different location. In that case, it isn't easy to coordinate your schedule with your lectures because of daylight savings in UK. Your sleep schedule and mental health will undergo a phase of changes. Many universities come up with schedules that also accommodate students out of the BST zone.    

3. Difficulty in Communicating

Unlike many countries, the UK follows BST and GMT, and this is confusing for international students. While it takes time to adjust to DST, be sure to give your friends and family about daylight savings, too. Only this way you can ensure fewer missed calls! 

Does Daylight Saving Time Impact Your Sleep Pattern? 

Resetting the clock to an hour earlier evidently means you virtually lose an hour of sleep. Your body is not a machine! Therefore, it takes a while for any human being to adjust. Daylight savings in UK especially affects the circadian rhythm - your body's physical, mental, and behavioural natural rhythm that is set on a 24-hour basis - does not align with this sudden change in lifestyle. 

The darker mornings can naturally delay your body's circadian rhythm as it assumes it is still nighttime, resulting in poor sleep. This can carry on for a while, resulting in sleep loss over an extended period. You are likely to face it in March rather than November as, for example, in daylight savings in the UK, one can observe darker mornings because of the summer season. Your body can naturally respond by urging itself to sleep for longer. Researchers have also found that this shift has, in rare cases, resulted in a surge of heart problems, mood disorders, and serious cases of insomnia.

Tips to Cope with Daylight Savings in the UK

The daylight savings time in the UK hits everyone on a different note; there is no doubt about it. While some people acclimatise quickly, others need more time. We recommend the following suggestions for adjusting to the time change in the UK for your health and safety:

1. You can start preparing ahead of time by a few days. It's best to go off to sleep 15 to 30 minutes earlier than your usual bedtime, about a week before "time-traveling." Your body requires extra time to make up for the lost hours.

2. You can create a balanced routine. During the changeover to daylight savings in the UK, maintain a regular schedule for eating, socialising, going to bed, and exercising. You can find inspiration from the best health tips for students! Also, try to wake up early so that you soak into the morning sunshine and get your dopamine levels up. 

3. You also need to avoid long hours of sleep and find a way to stay productive. It's rather tempting to close your eyes during the day, especially when you're tired. However, staying away from naps is essential for adjusting to the time change because prolonged daytime naps may make it more difficult for you to get a whole night's sleep. 

4. You can steer clear of coffee and other caffeinated drinks for four to six hours before bed. Avoid alcohol in the late hours of the night since it prevents you from getting good sleep.

What is Clock Casualty? 

When DST rolled out, everyone looked for the answer to "What is daylight saving in UK?" in an era when Google was not there. Needless to say, the confusion led to many funny episodes. For this reason, we have to recount the story of Clock Casualty: 

"When the clocks first changed in 1916, there were concerns that delicate striking clocks could be damaged by people trying to force the hands back an hour. Official warnings and guidelines were printed in newspapers and magazines to reduce the number of clock 'casualties'."

Now that you know about the affair of turning the clock behind for an hour during winter and forwarding it by one hour when the summer returns, we hope you don't have confusion about daylight savings in the UK anymore. It will take time to grow on you, but the information and tips mentioned above can help you cope with the situation. If daylight savings in the UK has got you interested, you can learn all about daylight savings in Australia and see how Australians prepare. So, fall back, spring forward, and relax!