Mountain Standard Time returns this weekend

By Lethbridge Herald on November 3, 2023.

Al Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

As the band Chicago sang “does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?”

Well, come Sunday morning there could be some confusion and foggy heads as Mountain Standard Time returns.

At 2 a.m. on Sunday, Albertans, like most people in North America, will be turning their clocks back an hour if they didn’t do it before hitting the sack Saturday night.

Or they may wait until that first cup of coffee to change them after realizing the time on the TV is different than the time on cellphones and computers.

For those who work Sunday morning, that could be a huge relief knowing they can take a bit of extra time to get ready.

For others that may mean waking up to a bit of light instead of darkness. But the downside is sunsets will be occurring an hour earlier which means we will be thrust into darkness sooner.

Disruptions to the circadian rhythm, say experts, can be harmful to the wellbeing of human beings, particularly in spring when we lose an hour of sleep.

Those disruptions can include decreased immune function, irritability, fatigue and of course an increased risk of health issues such as heart attacks. Even workplace injuries are said to increase. There is also reportedly a six per cent increase in vehicle collisions shortly after the time changes.

The twice annual change is an often discussed issues with pros and cons to the subject.

According to the Sleep Foundation in the United States, some experts say the potential for harmful effects justify permanent standard time. But others, who support a permanent Daylight Saving Time, believe that longer light in the evening could reduce use of electricity, and improve safety as well as activity of social and commercial nature.

Most polls, say the foundation, suggest that permanent Daylight Saving Time is preferred by 60 per cent of people in the U.S.

For those concerned about the potential impact on their bodies, the Weather Network has some tips for people to adjust.

They include:

* Keep your sleeping pattern regular before and after the clocks change. It’s particularly important to keep the time you wake up in the morning regular. This is because the body releases cortisol in the morning to make you more alert. Throughout the day you will become increasingly tired as cortisol levels decrease and this will limit the time change’s impact on your sleep.

* Gradually transition your body to the new time by changing your sleep schedule slowly over a week or so. Changing your bedtime 10-15 min earlier or later each day helps your body to gently adjust to the new schedule and eases the jet lag. 

* Get some morning sunlight. Morning light helps your body adjust quicker and synchronizes your body clock faster – whereas evening light delays your clock. Morning light will also increase your mood and alertness during the day and helps you sleep better at night.  

* Avoid bright light in the evening. This includes blue light from mobile phones, tablets, and other electronics. Blue light can delay the release of the sleep hormone melatonin, and reset the internal clock to an even later schedule. A dark environment is best at bedtime.

* Keep your eating pattern regular. Other environmental cues, such as food, can also synchronize your body clock. Research shows light exposure and food at the correct time, can help your master and peripheral clocks shift at the same speed. Keep mealtimes consistent and avoid late-night meals.

The Sleep Foundation also suggests that balanced diets with plenty of fruits and vegetables have been associated with improved sleep because they provide needed nutrients to the body.

It recommends to avoid disruptions in sleep people keep an eye on caffeine in beverages, limit their consumption of spicy and heavy foods in the evening and eat their last meal of the day several hours before going to bed.

For Alberta workers on night shift Saturday who may hope to get an extra hour of pay because they’ll be on duty an hour longer, that may not be the case.

According to a directive on the Alberta government website, alberta.ca, “although employees working a shift through 2 a.m. on that morning will be working one hour more than their normal shift, no adjustment in pay shall be effected for this period. Overtime compensation shall apply when an employee, on the morning of that day, works in excess of 9 hours in the case of a 40 hour a week requirement, or 8 3/4 hours in the case of a 38 3/4 hour a week requirement.”

The City of Lethbridge this week issued a reminder from Fire and Emergency Services to check home detectors and change furnace filters.

“The expiry date should be reviewed annually and putting in fresh batteries is an important step to ensure smoke detectors are working properly. If your smoke detector is more than 10 years old, it will need to be replaced,” says the City.

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