People Who Wish Daylight Saving Time Would Never End Almost Always Have 8 Legit Reasons
FabrikaSimf / Shutterstock People are pretty passionate about the daylight saving time debate. Some want it to be permanent, while others are on the fence or want things to stay as they are.
As the Sunshine Protection Act remains in limbo, awaiting a vote from the Senate, many disappointed people are enjoying the last few months of their extra-long days before this year's inevitable change. There may not be one perspective that’s obviously correct, but surveys show that the majority of Americans would prefer not to have to set the clock back every single November. Those people who want to keep daylight saving time year-round have some pretty strong arguments that are hard to refute.
People who wish daylight saving time would never end have these absolutely legitimate reasons
1. The sunlight boosts their mood
mimagephotography via Canva
It can be easy to forget when most of us are used to being stuck inside most of the day with nothing but artificial lighting for company, but more sunlight comes with a lot of health benefits, especially mentally.
A few extra hours of sunlight give people a natural mood-booster that’s also realistic. It’s much easier to spend time outside once work is over, so that’s when light could have the biggest impact.
2. They enjoy being able to make plans after work
Everyone is always talking about how they wish they had a healthier work-life balance, and permanent daylight saving could get us all one step closer. It’s pretty disappointing when you finish work and can’t do something fun to cap off the day.
Even if someone has the time to do that, it can feel pointless when it’s already dark by the time they leave the office. More daylight hours mean more time for people to do the things they enjoy that make it feel like work isn’t ruling their lives.
3. Kids get to play outside longer
It’s getting harder and harder to pull kids away from screens long enough for them to spend time outside like their parents used to. When there’s not much daylight left after they get home from school, and they still have homework to do, it feels next to impossible.
Kids benefit from being outside in the sun just like everyone else, but it also helps them learn practical skills like responsibility and confidence. They’re too young to be cooped up inside all day, but it’s hard to justify sending them outside for just a few minutes before the sun sets.
4. Nighttime depression doesn’t creep in as soon
cottonbro studio from Pexels via Canva
For some people, symptoms of depression get worse at night. Anyone who’s ever felt lonelier after the sun goes down knows what that’s like on some level.
After a busy day, the night can feel pretty empty. A little bit of extra time to do things in the daylight might not seem like a big deal to some, but it would make a huge difference to people who feel really down when they have nothing else to do.
5. The weekend feels so much longer
Pretty much everyone loves the break they get on the weekend after five days of work. Saturday and Sunday act as a kind of recovery period during which people can rest or be more active, depending on what they would benefit from because of their job.
Permanent daylight saving time wouldn’t actually make the weekend any longer, but it would feel that way. Any day with more sunlight feels like it lasts longer, so it would give people the illusion of having more free time than they already do.
6. They think they'd have more hours in the day
Every day has 24 hours, and daylight saving time doesn’t actually change that number. But, just like the weekend feels longer, the days feel longer, too. The Earth's tilt relative to its orbit around the Sun changes during this time, which is why we end up with more hours of daylight.
That kind of tricks people’s minds in a way. They’re still working with 24 hours, but more of those hours feel usable because of the extra light. They think they can be more productive, and that’s a feeling many want to keep with them all year.
7. Commuting home doesn’t feel as gloomy
SolStock from Getty Images Signature via Canva
Doing things in the dark, especially outside, feels pretty bleak to most people. No one wants to leave the office when it’s already pitch black and drive home in the dark with nothing to look forward to other than binge-watching Netflix.
This causes a bigger problem than feeling like a bummer, though. Driving at night is actually more dangerous for everyone because there’s less visibility. That means more sunlight does more than just boost people’s moods.
8. It feels like summer all year
Summer isn’t everyone’s favorite season, but there is something special about it. It brings back the nostalgia of having nothing to do over summer break and usually has nicer weather, too.
It would be hard to capture that magical summer feeling when it’s freezing outside, but being reminded of that time of year during seasons that are more challenging might make it easier for people to keep pushing through life until it really is summer again.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
