Fact or fiction: this is how it works with winter time

The chance is quite present that this year is the last time we switch to winter time. After all, there has been a discussion for years about whether it is really so useful, that hour forward and then back again. I actually don't have a strong opinion about it, except that I always find it a nice idea that I can sleep an ‘extra’ hour. But that hour can still cause quite a stir. Gigantic jetlags, kids completely out of sync, our pets who don't understand anything... But is that really the case? I'll lay out all the myths and facts for you.

FACT: An hour more sleep is better than losing an hour of sleep
Yes, we indeed adapt better to the change from summer time to winter time than the other way around, but that is not because an extra hour of sleep just feels really nice. No, winter time is actually our ‘normal’ time. So every time we have to switch to summer time, it takes extra getting used to. It's definitely a good point to abolish summer time altogether.

MYTH: You can get a gigantic jetlag from winter time
Well, sorry, even though it sometimes feels so nice to complain about it. ‘I'm so tired, yeah, it's because of that winter time, huh...’ No, that's just because of yourself. Well, you might have a bit of trouble for a day or two, but certainly not a week. And switching from winter time to summer time actually gives an even worse jetlag, because people often have to get up earlier since they lose that hour. So then you can really complain.

FACT: Adjusting the clock the day before works in your favor
Then you can get used to it a bit. The clock only goes back at three o'clock, but if you adjust it on Saturday afternoon or evening, you get used to it faster. So it's a good tip to do that from now on, and it also works with summer time.

MYTH: The reason for setting summer and winter time is that we function better
No, the reason for the introduction is very different: it was introduced in the 1970s for economic reasons. Money makes the world go round, of course, and during those years we were heavily in the oil crisis. Because it was light for an hour longer, energy costs were saved.

FACT: Summer and winter time is not always ‘necessary’
The closer you are to the equator, the less necessary it is. Because the closer to the sun = the less difference that hour makes.

MYTH: Abolishing winter time alleviates your winter depression
I also always really suffer from a winter dip, so this would be ideal if it were the case. But unfortunately... That hour won't make a difference. The winter depression is indeed caused in the months when we have winter time, but it comes from simply having fewer hours of daylight. An hour more or less doesn't make a difference in that. How about vitamin D then?

Source: Nu.nl