Time 'Falling Back' Could Spike Stress Hormones, Doctor Says
Doctors say the annual clock change can disrupt circadian rhythms, with sleep, mood and energy often taking up to a week to readjust.
- Spain set clocks back one hour on Sunday, October 25, 2026, beginning winter time. Mainland and Balearic clocks moved from 3 a.m. to 2 a.m., while the Canary Islands shifted from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m., granting residents an extra hour of sleep.
- This adjustment follows a five-year schedule approved by Spain's Official State Gazette in 2022 under Royal Decree PCM/186/2022, which mandates annual time changes through 2026 to enable advance notice for citizens and organizations.
- Medical biochemist Jane Ollis warns that reduced morning light during this transition can disrupt circadian rhythms, potentially causing sluggishness. Experts suggest consistent morning light exposure and exercise to regulate cortisol and serotonin while adjusting to shorter days.
- Spain adopted its current time zone in 1940 under General Francisco Franco, a legacy critics argue "no longer makes sense." Campaigners push for a return to Greenwich Mean Time, complicating ongoing debate over abolishing the twice-yearly shifts.
- While the current five-year calendar concludes with this 2026 change, the long-term future remains uncertain as the European Union has yet to reach a definitive agreement on abolishing seasonal time changes beyond this year.
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528 Articles
The world can't agree on Daylight Saving Time
On Sunday, Americans turned their clocks back an hour to mark the end of Daylight Saving Time. The seasonal shuffle began in World War I, when Germany and Austria-Hungary did so to conserve energy. A century later, the world can't agree on whether changing the clocks is worth the trouble. More than 140 countries have used DST at some point, but around half have since ditched it.
Daylight saving time ends as doctors warn of seasonal depression
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — As daylight saving time comes to an end, earlier sunsets and longer nights may bring more than just a change in routine. Doctors say the reduced daylight can affect mood, energy levels and sleep patterns. According to Mental Health America, about 5% of the U.S. population experiences seasonal depression each [...]
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North Bay NipissingHow daylight saving time may affect your spending — and ways to manage the ‘tired tax’
Sleep Country Canada research suggests people could be hit with a tired tax — extra expenses on convenience food, coffee and impulse purchases — as sleep-deprived people adjust to biannual time changes and fall fatigue.
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