Sleep Awareness Week 2023

It is no coincidence that Sleep Awareness Week begins on March 12, 2023, the day when most Americans face a disruption in sleep due to the start of Daylight Saving Time. The one-hour time shift results in shorter, less restful sleep and a higher risk of cardiac problems such as heart attack, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. The NSF’s 2023 theme, Sleep is Essential for Health, aims to bring awareness of how public policies like Daylight Saving Time affect sleep and overall health.

An adjustment of just one hour may not seem drastic enough to have health consequences, but experts in sleep science note concerning trends in the month of March that include upticks in cardiovascular events, mood disorders, and motor vehicle collisions. The sleep problems resulting in disrupted circadian rhythm are also observed (to a lesser degree) in November when the nation transitions back to Standard Time. This indicates that it isn’t just the loss of an hour of sleep but rather the disruption of the light-darkness cycle in general that has negative health results.

These time-change outcomes have inspired some experts to advocate for abandoning Daylight Saving Time, citing that making Standard Time permanent is in line with human and animal circadian rhythms and would benefit public health and safety. For perspective, however, at least 70 countries observe Daylight Saving Time, with supporters saying it decreases energy consumption and the associated costs, both financial and environmental. Some countries have even reported a decrease in crime after the time change, possibly because of the extended evening daylight.

Despite the history and observed benefits of Daylight Saving Time, state representatives from Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oregon unveiled the Sunshine Protection Act in March 2021 (followed by 33 additional states pursuing similar resolutions at the state level) to discontinue the time change in the U.S.