How to change time gently?

Changing time is a bit like changing countries and experiencing jet lag. Admittedly minimal, since we're talking about an hour. But unlike an individual trip, changing time is as if the whole country were changing time zones. As Niels Armstrong might have said, “the time change is a small step for man, but a giant leap for the nation 🙂 ”.

How to best prepare for this mini collective trauma? That's what we suggest in this Espaciel FAQ.

Date and time of daylight saving time?

The time change takes place on Sunday, March 31, 2024. At 2 a.m. it will be 3 a.m. It's the shortest time of the year!

To make the time change a success, we need to adjust our watches, clocks, alarm clocks... and even the oven clock! On dials, we advance the hand by one hour. On digital displays, we add an hour.

What are the consequences of the time change?

The benefit of the time change is that we gain an hour of sunshine at the end of the day. But we also get up earlier. That's one hour less sleep. 

The time change causes increased fatigue due to sleep deprivation.  It also leads to a shift in our daily habits: getting up and going to bed, mealtimes, etc... This requires a realignment of our internal clock, which may take a few days.

What role does natural light play in the time change?

Our internal clock is tuned to the circadian cycle that punctuates our day. Natural light plays a key role.

Exposed to daylight, our body secretes serotonin. This neurotransmitter activates our metabolism. It's known as the happy hormone.

In the evening, light changes color, darkening and then giving way to darkness. In response to this gradual decrease in brightness, the body secretes melatonin. This is the nocturnal counterpart of serotonin. Melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone, helps the body to fall asleep.

Other physiological and psychological phenomena are at work in connection with natural light, over the course of a day, week, month or season. Hence the importance of a successful time change!

How to survive the time change?

Good news! 99.99% of the world's population makes it through the time change 🙂

That doesn't mean you can't keep in mind that you need to catch up on an hour's sleep, and that it's important to stay in shape for the week ahead.

The summer time change opens up a period that's easier to live with than the preceding winter season. More daylight is good for morale and motivation. Gradually, spring sets in and the fine weather returns. We spend more time outdoors.

A virtuous cycle begins. More daylight, more light, more outdoor life, etc... All these factors increase our exposure to the benefits of natural light.

To find out more, read our blog posts on the health benefits of natural light!

To know how important is natural light to health: Click here!

To learn about the essential health benefits of natural light: Click here!

Reflectors for more natural light at home!

Discover our solutions for improving natural lighting in your home on the espaciel.com website. Our range of Light Reflectors is here to help you make the most of natural light and its benefits!

Discover the Espaciel online store.