Why Does Daylight Saving Time Make Us Feel So Blah?

If you're a parent, you've certainly heard the chatter that starts around Daylight Saving Time — you know, the complaints about how the (incredibly abrupt, it should be noted) switch affects kids.

Whether we're gaining or losing an hour, the conversation about kids is always the same. But hey, we matter too!  Nobody is talking about the full story here: Daylight Saving Time doesn't just turn kids into cranky little dictators. It also messes with us adults in some real ways. 

Basically? If you find yourself feeling extra tired or emotionally just...off right around the time change? You're not alone. 

Material from Johns Hopkins University puts it very succinctly. "The changing of the clock means misalignment with our bodies’ natural rhythms," the school's web site declares. Yup, felt.

According to the materials, DST can increase mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. The reduced exposure to light during waking hours can mess with our circadian rhythms. Even more serious? Studies show that rates of motor vehicle accidents increase after a time change. 

A study even suggests  that we could potentially reduce rates of stroke and obesity if we could just do away with dreaded DST. The fight to make DST permanent — and to do away with the twice time changes — is underway. And we’d say the evidence in the “for” column is pretty compelling.

There are things you can do to help yourself feel less...well, blah, around the time change, according to the Mayo Clinic. Buying a light box, exercising, and focusing on living a generally healthy lifestyle can be helpful. Easier said than done, though, especially when you’re already feeling so groggy to begin with.

Ask Clara: What is circadian rhythm?