Earlier this week I was rejoicing -- the sun had returned to my morning routine. Although I was still awakening before the alarm, I was greeted by the first beams of sunrise, which brought me joy and energy.
Looks like I can kiss that feeling goodbye for another month at least.
In 2005, Congress approved a change in the start and ending date of Daylight Savings Time. It went into effect last March. And again early this morning.
Last year, I felt it instantly on Monday morning. Gone was the thin light outside my window at 6 a.m. Gone was the sunshine lighting up the landscape as I drove to work. Gone was the jolt of happiness that allowed me to say, spring is almost here.
We're in mid-winter light again, dang it.
I need the sun. I don't see so much of it during the day. I sit desk- and phone-bound to get my work done and some days I venture into the sunlight only when I'm heading to lunch or on an errand. My office is cave-like during the afternoon because I have to pull the shades down on my west-facing windows to see my computer without glare.
I really need the morning sun.
I guess my body never got the message that Congress has the power to mess with the clock too early in the year. Or that lobbyists can too: The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and the National Association of Convenience Stores successfully lobbied for the 2007 extension to U.S. DST.
Here's the Wikipedia explanation behind it:
Economic effects
Retailers, sporting goods makers, and other businesses benefit from extra afternoon sunlight, as it induces customers to shop and to participate in outdoor afternoon sports.[32] For example, in 1984 Fortune magazine estimated that a seven-week extension of DST would yield an additional $30 million for 7-Eleven stores, and the National Golf Foundation estimated the extension would increase golf industry revenues $200 million to $300 million.[33] Conversely, DST can adversely affect farmers and others whose hours are set by the sun.[3] For example, grain harvesting is best done after dew evaporates, so when field hands arrive and leave earlier in summer their labor is less valuable.[34] DST also hurts prime-time broadcast ratings[4] and drive-in and other theaters.[35]
Clock shifts correlate with decreased economic efficiency. In 2000 the daylight-saving effect implied an estimated one-day loss of $31 billion on U.S. stock exchanges.[36] Clock shifts and DST rule changes have a direct economic cost, since they entail extra work to support remote meetings, computer applications and the like. For example, a 2007 North American rule change cost an estimated $500 million to $1 billion.[37](from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time#_note-Beam)
Good grief! Convenience stores add $30 million to their coffers, Golf Clubs get $200 to $300 million, but the overall North American economic impact was a cost of $500 million to $1 billion, not to mention the $31 billion loss on the U.S. stock exchanges? Who is watching our national bankbook? People who can't do basic math?
I'll have to slog through a day or two before I reset my internal body clock to wake up at my normal time. I will have to struggle and suffer to pull myself out of bed so I don't get to work late. I will adjust, slowly, but I won't be happy and those around me won't be either. They'll be grumpy and groggy too, so productivity will plummet. Some economic benefit, huh?
Well, I guess I can look at the bright side that convenience stores are reaping the benefits. Someone has to, since 300 million U.S. citizens aren't.
