Once again: Does he sleep more or less? Does the clock advance or delay? How long will there be a schedule change? Some answers are multiple and find the opinions of experts and, also, of citizens. The truth is that during (except in the Canary Islands where 1.00 will be 2.00). That night will sleep for an hour less and, from that day, it will dawn and dusk later. This begins the summer schedule.
How does people affect?
The change of schedule has an impact on the circadian rhythm of people. Sergio Paredes, director of the Department of Physiology of the Complutense University of Madrid, explains: “The biological clock of the human being is synchronized with sunlight and advance an hour discourages these rhythms.” This can generate a feeling of fatigue and drowsiness, as well as irritability and stress due to the alteration of sleep and vigil cycles.
Paredes maintains that the change of March schedule away Spain from sunscreen; Daws and sunsets are later than in other countries with similar latitude (such as Portugal). “This mismatch can affect the rest, productivity and health of the population,” he adds.
There is also a gap between the social clock (social activities, work, etc.) and the biological clock (synchronized to sunlight) and this implies that people wake up when their brain is not prepared or eat when metabolism is not ready to process nutrients, explains walls.
Why do you affect babies, children and older adults more?
The ―Salvo who already have sleeping problems or strict routines. However, older adults and young children may need a longer adaptation, since their biological clock is less flexible, says Paredes.
Gonzalo Pin, coordinator of the Sleep and Chronobiology Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, comments that in the days close to the schedule parents of babies, children and adolescents, as well as teachers, they can notice “worse school performance, more irritability, less capacity for concentration, possible loss of appetite”. Recommends that you have patience with the little ones; as well as expose them to sunlight and physical activity in the early hours of the morning (example, take them walking to school), so that the start of sleep at night is easier.
What consequences does it have in sleep?
The specialists agree that the dream is the aspect most affected by the time change. In this case, during the early hours of March 30, an hour less will sleep when the clock advances. But that change will continue to affect sleep routine for a few days. Carlos Egea, president of the Spanish Federation of Sleep Medicine Societies (FESMES), highlights that 60% of Spaniards sleep less than they should, and the time change can increase this problem.
He adds that, culturally, people prefer that there are sun during leisure hours in the afternoon. However, he warns that this “goes against health.” The reason is that sunlight is the main synchronizer of the organism and its greatest benefit is obtained in the morning, since it influences the time we fall asleep at night. “The hourly difference causes alterations and can lead us to sleep deprivation,” he says.
Does it influence food?
The nutritionist Clara Puig Muñoz explains that it can influence food and feeling of hunger due to the alteration of the circadian rhythm. Specifically about the increase in light in the afternoon, he says: “It makes us feel more energy and can lead to a certain delay in the hours of the main intakes.” On the other hand, there are “more hours of socialization, which can coincide with an increase in consumption of alcoholic and energy beverages and meals out,” he says.
To favor good digestion, the nutritionist recommends dinner two or three hours before bedtime. Otherwise, digestion can be heavier, even appear reflux; and thus affect the quality of sleep and rest.
How long does it happen and how long will it be done?
The majority of European countries established the change of time in the seventies for the energy crisis derived from the increase in oil prices. Spain did it in 1974. The objective was (and continues to be) to match everyday activities with sunlight and thus limit the use of electricity during the morning and afternoon.
Although the debate continues on whether or not it should be maintained, in Spain the schedule will be changed until ,. In accordance with Royal Decree 236/2002, every five years a calendar must be published with the concrete dates of time change.
Does it really save energy?
María Prado, responsible for the Greenpeace energy campaign, explains that, today, energy consumption has dropped a lot, especially at the industrial level. However, it ensures that the change of hour is an important measure, but in relation to when energy is saved, rather than how much it is saved.
On this, he explains that the modification in the watches makes the schedule change at the hours where there is sun and wind, therefore where there is more renewable energy. This generates that the electrical system feeds more about clean energies – such as solar or wind – than gas. “The system prioritizes renewables, then at that time where there is more, gas centrals are stopped on and we are more efficient,” he says.
Prado indicates that the objective should be that Spain has a totally dependent system of renewable energy. And with concrete measures, energy consumption could be reduced by half: “The change of schedule is only one of these measures,” he says.
What do Spanish prefer?
The majority prefer to eliminate the hourly change, according to the barometer of the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) ―Realized to 4,090 people – published in November 2023. 65.8% of respondents said they prefer to eradicate this measure, while 22.5% maintain it. The CIS also consulted which schedule preferred: 68.5% liked summer schedule and 21.5% winter.
In addition, in Europe, according to a survey promoted by the European Commission and made to more than 4.6 million people from different European countries, 84% preferred to stop changing watches.
What schedule is better?
Some specialists, who alters the biological mechanisms that regulate the circadian rhythm. This alteration can be a cause of sleep disorders, explains Darío Acuña, professor of the Department of Physiology at the University of Granada, who participates in the Transport and Tourism Committee, under the European Parliament, which analyzes the usefulness of time change.
He also explains that the variations of light throughout the stations are soft and allow human adaptation. However, the change of summer schedule breaks with this slower progression.
Sergio Paredes indicates that there is a consensus between societies (Spanish Sleep Society, Portuguese Society of Chronobiology and Sleep Medicine, a society for the investigation of biological rhythms, among others) that advocate to establish the standard time (winter schedule) throughout the year, so that biological and social watches are more aligned.
