However, night will now fall earlier, which could have negative effects on some people, such as feeling tired or having more trouble falling asleep and waking up. According to Nadia Gosselin, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the Université de Montréal and scientific director of the Center for Advanced Studies in Sleep Medicine, this time change is important to consider because it can disrupt the body’s function. “Our bodies and eyes are very sensitive to light,” Gosselin said. “For some people, this variation affects their energy level and mood. It should be noted that this change is caused more by less sun exposure.” Although the biannual time change is a controversial practice in Quebec, it may have some benefits. If Daylight Saving Time were observed, the sun would rise late – sometimes even after 8:00 AM. – something that would be harder on the body. “It’s really the morning light that helps the body synchronize with the day and gives it a good wake-up signal,” said the science director. “It’s important, so going back to standard time can help a lot of people — especially early risers — get that light.” That being said, most people easily adjust to this disruption in their schedule. Only a minority of people will report problems lasting more than a week. This is especially true for the elderly, whose biological clock is more susceptible to disruption. In contrast, others will have little or no effect from this regression, such as teenagers and young adults. “For teenagers there should be no problems because they are used to going to bed late and have a biological preference to wake up late. So this time change will fit into their biological schedule,” said Nadia Gosselin. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on November 5, 2022. — This article was produced with financial support from Meta and Canadian Press News Grants.
